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Bk (( W(ii( that They Knew lot. 


A. 


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BY 


A. WELLINGTON. 



“And I will bring the blind by a way that they 
knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have 
not known; I will make darkness light before them, 
and crooked things straight. These things will I do 
unto them, and not forsake them.” 




DEC 14 


Op 


VKASHI 


y 

HlWfl 


CHICAGO: 

Rand, McNally & Co., Printers, 148-154 Monroe St. 
1885 . 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by 
A. A. WELLINGTON, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



PiREFACE. 


I have committed this book to the Lord; its success 
rest with Him. If one life is made more helpful, 
more hopeful, more trustful; if one mother, is incited 
to pray more earnestly for her children, by the perusal 
of its pages, then I shall have received my recompense. 

A. A. W. 








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I 




a Waf that They I^neto Wot. 


CHAPTER I. 

^OU would have pronounced Susie Keith 
every inch a lady, from her neatly 
booted foot, to her dainty head, crowned 
with its wealth of dark-brown hair. She sat 
in a low rocker by the open window, in her 
room at Mt. Celia Seminary, bending intently 
over an open book. Turning occasionally, she 
let her bright eyes rove over the beautiful 
landscape, — stretched out like a gigantic pan- 
orama in the June sunshine ; then she reso- 
lutely turned her attention to her lesson, and 
her face was statue-like in its thoughtful quiet- 
ness. She was something more than beautiful, 
this gray- eyed girl, with the grand, sweet gra- 
( 5 ) 


6 


By a Way that Th^y Knew Not. 


ciousness of a noble woman’s soul imprinted 
on every feature. And nigh to her, about her 
daily path, had ever been the heavenly influ- 
ences of love, and truth, and beauty. 

Quite unlike Susie Keith, in every respect, 
was her room-mate, Edna Byford, who nestled 
up in the broad window- seat of another 
window. She was the petted darling — or per- 
haps doll would be the better word — of a 
wealthy home ; an only daughter, indulged, 
and spoiled, and allowed to have her own 
sweet way in everything. And, something as 
a baby mother will dress up her waxen doll, 
in silks, and ribbons, and fanciful attire, so 
Mrs. Byford delighted to enhance the almost 
perfect beauty of her child. Indeed, it seemed 
sometimes that hardly a thought had she 
above and beyond. What shall we eat, and 
drink, and wear? Certainly the text-books 
that she most studied were instructive of 
fashion only. Without question, Edna’s was 
a face for any mother to be proud of ; it was 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


7 


also a face for which to pray heaven’s protec- 
tion. But not a thought of prayer for the 
beautiful girl entrusted to her care, had Mrs. 
Byford. Ah no ! With her, the important 
question — the thing to be careful for — was, 
whether pink, or blue, would suit best the 
delicate complexion, whether high or low neck 
to her dress would be most becoming, and so 
on through the endless round of fashionable 
quibbles. Now you are ready to admit, that, 
under such circumstances, it would have been 
quite wonderful if Edna had been anything 
but vain and superficial. 

“ I declare, I wish there wasn’t such a thing 
in the world as a book ! ” 

It was Edna who said this, in a tone half 
petulant, half playful. She tossed back the 
light rings of hair clustering over her temples, 
as she spoke, and her eyes wandered longingly 
out into the surrounding beauty. 

Susie smiled, without raising her eyes from 
her book. 


8 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Edna drummed on the window impatiently. 
“ What a provoking old book- worm you are, 
Susie! I really don’t believe you ever get 
tired of studying.” 

Susie looked up, still smiling. 

“‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do 
it with thy might.’ ” 

“ Oh bother ! ” returned Edna, quite testily, 
“for pity’s sake, can’t you speak, without 
quoting the Bible? How’s your graduating 
^ dress made? I’m more interested in that, 
than I am in this stupid old lesson. What’ s 
the use in learning all this fol-de-rol anyway, 
I should like to know ? I never intend to be a 
school-marm, and who else in the world needs 
to know all this rubbish ? ’ ’ 

At this point Sasie expostulated. 

‘ ‘ Please do keep quiet, Edna ; it’ s against 
the rules to talk during study hours.” 

“Humph!” said Edna, “who cares for the 
rules? Not I.” 

Nevertheless, seeing any farther conversa- 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


9 


tion was out of the question, she betook herself 
to her own neglected lesson. 

Presently a bell sounded through the build- 
ing, saying to weary students that study hours 
were over. 

“There, I’ve got it,” Susie said gayly, clos- 
ing her book. 

“Well, I’m tired of it, if I haven’t got it,” 
said Edna, throwing her book 9n the table. 
“Is it against the rule to talk now % ” 

“No,” Susie answered, with a soft little 
laugh, “I’m ready to talk, or walk, or any- 
thing your ladyship feels inclined to do.” 

Edna puckered up her face into a thought- 
ful expression. 

“Let’s see,” she said, “I believe I want to 
see your graduating dress the most of any- 
thing just now.” 

So Susie opened her trunk and brought to 
view a dress, so exquisite, that Edna ex- 
claimed, 

“ How perfectly lovely ! India mull! And 
trimmed with real lace, too ! ” 


10 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


“Do you like it ?” questioned Susie. 

“Like it! you sly puss, you know it’s just 
too charming for anything. Well, in one more 
week it will all be over, and then — ” 

“And then, you and I will be homeward- 
bound,” interrupted Susie, her face all aglow 
with gladness. 

“Is Sycamore a nice place questioned 
Edna. 

“/ think it is, delightful,” answered Susie, 
“ maybe you won’ t like it, though, you are so 
accustomed to the city.” 

“Oh, I never stay in the city through the 
summer ! ” returned Edna, “the heat and dust 
are horrid in hot weather.” 

Now you are prepared to hear that Edna was 
going home with Susie, for the summer vaca- 
tion. A strange friendship, it seemed, but 
those of you who know anything of the close 
intimacy of boarding-school life, will easily 
understand it. 

‘“I warn you, beforehand, Susie,” said 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


11 


Edna, “that I’m a terrible flirt; so, if you 
have any special gentleman friend, perhaps 
you had better take good care of him.” 

Her eyes sparkled with a daring, bewitch- 
ing light, as she spoke, and Susie looked at 
her, thinking how charming she was, with her 
pretty, changeful, coquettish ways, but not a 
thought had she of what a dangerous rival she 
might be. Indeed, I think she would almost 
have scorned to believe that her lover, or par- 
ticular friend, could thus think of Edna 
By ford. 

“ I expect Nelson will fall a victim to your 
charms at the first glance,” she answered, 
laughing. 

“When does your brother return?” ques- 
tioned Edna, demurely. 

Susie could hardly repress a smile, as she 
imagined her grave, thoughtful brother, yield- 
ing homage to her thistle-down, thoughtless 
friend ; nevertheless, she answered, gravely : 

“We expect him the first of August.” 


12 


By a ~Way that They Knew Not. 


Meantime commencement day— well named 
commencement day, for on that day ends the 
old, happy, careless school life, and a new life 
begins — came, and crowded to excess was the 
spacious hall with expectant friends and rela- 
tives. Presently, to slow, marching music, 
came the graduates, and fair as two lovely 
brides looked Susie and Edna, in their snowy 
dresses. There were a few preliminary exer- 
cises, then Susie stepped gracefully forward 
and delivered the salutatory address, and her 
clear, distinct words of welcome broke the 
utter silence of the room. 

Following the address, Edna sang. Now it 
so happened that this was Edna’s special gift, 
— a voice so rich, and rarely beautiful in tone, 
that her hearers were usually thrown into a 
transport of delight. Exceedingly proud was 
Mrs. Byford of this God-given talent, and 
no pains or expense had been spared to give it 
the highest cultivation. It was a tender fare- 
well piece that Edna sang on that particular 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


13 


afternoon, and, exquisitely tender, her voice 
rolled out every word, distinctly spoken, of 
the class song — 

“ Now the time has come for parting: 

Classmates, we must say good-bye. 

We’ll go forth with lofty purpose, 

And fulfill it ere we die.’^ 

“What’s this!” said some one in the crowd. 
“A prima donna at a boarding-school com- 
mencement I ” 

“I actually pity that girl,” said another 
thoughtful man, looking searchingly at Edna’s 
lovely, flushed face. 

“Pity her!” cried the flrst speaker, “I 
shoAild rather think of envying her.” 

“I tell you, her beauty, and talent together, 
are dangerous weapons in unskilled hands. 
If she hasn’ t a praying mother, her feet stand 
in slippery places.” 

But other exercises took their attention 
then ; and almost before they were aware of 
it, the principal was saying a few last words 
of earnest counsel to the graduates, and then 


14 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


it was all over. Life was all before them then, 
— it was the spring of their year, the time of 
budding promise, of fearless hope. Were they 
prepared to make the most of the rich possi- 
bilities awaiting them ? To so live that other 
lives would be better, and happier, for their 
living ? Ah me ! how few realize what a fear- 
fully solemn thing life is, until it is too late, 
and they stand, clutching in weary, drooping 
hands, the harvest of a life — nothing but 
leaves. And yet, how well worth the living is 
life to those who can say at its close, “I have 
fought a good fight; I have kept the faith.’’ 

But nothing of this thought Edna, as she 
folded her graduating dress, with its number- 
less ruffles, and planned out her campaign for 
the summer. 



CHAPTER II. 

WT was an inviting picture upon which their 
|r eyes rested — that glorious old homestead, 
^ bathed in the rare freshness and beauty 
of a perfect June day. 

‘ And what is so rare as a day in June ? ’ ” 
said Edna, her eyes taking in all the details. 

The house, large and square, with broad 
vine-wreathed verandas ; the lawn, sloping 
away like a rich velvet carpet of green ; and 
here, there, everywhere, shrubs and flowers 
scattered in careless profusion, where the bees 
droned and hummed lazily. The occasional 
flutter of the leaves, stirred by a passing breath 
of wind, or perhaps the touch of a wandering 
butterfly’s wings; the twitter of the birds, as 
they flitted here and there ; the sweet incense 
arising from myriads of unnoticed flowers, 

smiling up into the clear, blue sky, — all con- 
(15) 


16 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


tributed to form a liome-like picture, quite 
new and charming to Edna Byford’s city 
accustomed eyes. 

“Here we are, at home,” said Susie, as the 
carriage stopped. 

“How delightful ! ” cried Edna. 

Then Susie sped up the steps, to be folded 
in her mother’s arms. There was a moment’s 
forgetfulness of her friend, then she said, 
eagerly, 

“ Mother, this is Edna Byford.” 

Mrs. Keith took Edna’s hand, and held it in 
a close, warm grasp, and made her welcome 
with a sweet, motherly grace. 

After which, the girls went up-stairs to their 
room, to freshen their travel-stained toilets. 
And what a perfect bower of beauty this same 
room was, with its soft, delicate carpet, and rich, 
massive furniture, softened by curtains of exqui- 
site lace, that swayed idly in the summer wind. 

Edna was charmed with everything, — with 
the perfect beauty of the day, with Susie’s 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


17 


mother, and with Susie’s room, where the 
blossoming elm -boughs were swaying in at the 
open window. Then the dainty tea, served in 
the cool, delightful dining-room, where the 
doors were thrown back, and let in the breath 
of budding shrubs and blooming flowers, .was 
altogether enchanting. Susie and Edna talked 
and laughed about the meagre boarding-school 
fare, and Mrs. Keith smiled at their nonsense, 
or spoke gently now and then, and studied, 
meanwhile, her young daughter’s friend. 

When the repast was ended, they went out 
on the piazza, and gradually the soft, rose- 
tinted twilight deepened down around them. 
Then Susie slipped away to the piano, and the 
sweet melody of her song floated out from the 
open windows and lingered all about them, 
and the beauty and stillness folded them in 
like a mantle. 

The elegance of the Keiths’ home was noth- 
ing new to Edna Byford. But the genuine 
comfort, the refined pleasantness, the family 
3 


18 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


joy, tliat reigned there, and welcomed her into 
its midst, were wholly new and strange. She 
drank in the sunshine and beauty, and the 
sweet loving-kindness, and Christ-like cour- 
tesy, together, and thought of them — if she 
thought at all— as parts of one another. Still, 
she had never seen just such sunshine and 
indescribable civility before. She was totally 
ignorant of the fundamental principle of good- 
breeding, which teaches us to ‘‘Be kindly 
affectioned one to another,, with brotherly love ; 
in honor preferring one another.’’ 

Meantime, Mrs. Keith, with sweet, motherly 
grace, and gentle womanliness, held high her 
gospel-lighted lamp. And the summer days 
went gayly by ; and in due course of time the 
evening of the weekly prayer-meeting came ; 
and out upon the evening stillness the great bell 
in the church steeple sent forth its invitation. 

Within the church Rev. Br. Gordon waited 
the coming of his people — with the least little 
unacknowledged feeling of discouragement 


By a TFay that They Knew Not. 


19 


tugging at his heart-strings. As he waited^ 
he hummed, softly, — 

‘ ‘ ril cast on Him my every care, 

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.” 

Then the people began to drop in, one by 
one, pausing in the vestibule to chatter of any 
and every thing but prayer. 

“ I just know I shall laugh,” said Edna, as 
they entered the outer door, “I always want 
to when I’m in church.” 

Susie looked grave. 

‘‘But you mustn’t,” said she. And then 
others came in, and they went quietly to their 
seats. 

And presently Edna nud-ged Susie, and 
whispered, 

“Isn’t he handsome?” 

Then Dr. Gordon — a man of perhaps thirty, 
with a grave, thoughtful face, and deep, dark 
eyes, expressive of fire, and earnestness, and 
almost infinite tenderness, — arose, and looked 
around upon the upturned faces. A moment 


20 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


he paused ; then, in a clear, low voice, read 
their evening, lesson, ending with the impres- 
sive injunction : — 

“ ‘ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus/ ’’ 

Immediately after the reading, they sang 
that inspiring old hymn : 

“ Am I a soldier of the cross, — 

A follower of the Lamb, — 

And shall I fear to own His cause, 

Or blush to speak His name ? ” 

Then Dr. Gordon said : — 

“ Let us pray.” 

And then, for perhaps the first time in her 
life, Edna listened to real, heartfelt prayer. 
Not as if speaking to some far-away, strange 
being, but simply as a child, tenderly, as a 
large-souled man would ask some much de- 
sired favor of a beloved parent, so Dr. Gordon 
pleaded the cause of his people. And not a 
thought of laughing had Edna, as the wonder- 
ful words, spoken by the low, earnest, tender 
voice, penetrated to her inner consciousness. 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


21 


As for Susie, she could have repeated the 
entire petition — almost word for word — so deep 
was the impression it made upon her soul. 

After the prayer, the congregation sang : — 

“ Work, for the night is coming.” 

At this point Dr. Gordon announced that 
the remainder of the time would be devoted 
to testimony, and recommended that every 
one in the room take part in the exercises. 
He glanced at Susie as he spoke, and her eyes 
fell, and the color rose in her face. 

^‘What! stand up before Edna and confess 
her Lord! Indeed, indeed she couldn’t,” her 
thoughts ran. 

And Dr. Gordon — with his profound knowl- 
edge of human nature — saw and read her 
indecision, and girlish cowardice, and gladly 
would he have given to her of his abundant 
courage. 

“ Ashamed of Jesus! that dear friend, 

On whom my hopes of heaven depend! ” 

he sang softly. 


22 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Susie’s lips parted eagerly, then closed 
again, like one afraid to speak, her breath 
came quickly, and she trembled from head to 
foot ; nevertheless, she rose to her feet. 

‘‘Jesus is my friend, and Savior,” she said, 
timidly. 

Then she grew strangely calm, and strong. 

“ Thank God,” said Dr. Gordon, earnestly. 

Then, after a few words of testimony from 
old and young, he spoke a few solemn, closing 
words. 

“My friends,” he said, “if you go forth 
from this meeting strengthened to do whatso- 
ever you do to the glory of God, then your 
coming has not been in vain. Your allotted 
task may be hard and distasteful ; your daily 
round, irksome and disagreeable ; and you 
may feel tempted, in utter discouragement, to 
say, there is nothing you can do to the glory 
of God. But the Great Teacher taught that 
‘ a cup of cold water only,’ given in the spirit 
of love, was worthy of reward. 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


23 


‘‘Christ said, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these, ray brethren, ye 
have done it unto me.’ And only as you 
realize this fact, doing whatever you do as 
unto Him, can you live a broad, beautiful, 
Christian life. Thus understanding it, the 
most commonplace action becomes sublime. 
What matters, then, where your feet stand, or 
wherewith your hands are busy? You need 
not say, ‘ Oh, if I could only do some grand 
work for Christ ! ’ You have but to ‘Lift up 
your eyes to look on fields white already to 
harvest, but the laborers are few.’ Let none 
hear you idly saying, 

“ ‘ There is nothing I can do, 

While the souls of men are dying, 

And the Master calls for you: 

Take the work He gives you gladly, 

Let His work your pleasure be ; 

Answer quickly, when He calleth, 

Here am I, send me, send me.’ ” 



CHAPTER III. 

® R. GORDON, my friend, Miss Byford.’’ 

I It was Susie who said this, a few 
moments later. 

Edna bowed, with that inimitable air of grace, 
and her great childlike eyes looked up into 
his, — grave and questioning. She imagined his 
look said : Miss Byford, are you a Christian ? 
So, from pure contrariness, she said some tri- 
fling, nonsensical thing. Then others pressed 
up to shake hands with their pastor, and they 
went their separate ways. And home, through 
the glorious moonlight, walked Dr. Gordon, 
thinking deeply of his people’s welfare. For 
the young he felt especially anxious, and his 
grave face brightened when he recalled Susie’ s 

modest testimony, realizing, as he did, the 
( 24 ) 




By a Way that They Knew JSTot. 


25 


moral courage required to give it, and to him- 
self he said : 

‘‘Unless I am very greatly mistaken, she 
has the elements of a grand, Christian char- 
acter.” 

Strangely quiet was Edna during the home- 
ward walk, and Susie’s conversation was 
wholly to herself. It ran something in this 
way: 

“‘Whatsoever.’ That must mean every 
little thing. It would be truly lovely to live 
so, but — would it be possible ? Let’s see — if I 
should try — in the first place, mother is very 
particular about my appearance. She wants 
my hair combed nicely every morning, before 
breakfast, and my collar and cuffs, and every- 
thing about my dress, exquisitely neat. Now, 
for my part, I would much rather give my 
hair a quick brush, than waste the time comb- 
ing it so nicely, and as for collars and cuffs, I 
don’ t see why they are necessary at all. Then, 
mother says order is heaven’s first law, and 


26 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


she is constantly speaking to me about my 
disorderly habits. I really don’t intend to be 
careless, but it is so much trouble to stop, 
when one is in a hurry, to put every little thing 
in its proper place. But I suppose ‘ Whatso- 
ever’ must mean to please mother in every 
possible way, and pleasing her means doing 
all these little homely duties. Why, if I start 
trying, on that principle, there will be no end- 
to the things I ought to do. But how strange 
it will seem to think of doing such trivial acts 
‘in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ ” 

However, before they had reached home, 
Susie had determined in her resolute little 
heart to take that one word, “Whatsoever,” 
for her motto. Thankful, indeed, would Dr. 
Gordon have been could he have seen the ear- 
nest purpose, and known that it was born of 
words of his. 

“It’s just too ridiculous,” Edna said, the 
minute they were in their room, “the way peo- 
ple go on at a prayer-meeting.” 


By a Way that They Kneio N'ot. 


27 


She took the pins from her hair as she 
spoke, and let it fall, like a rich, golden veil, 
around her. Then she looked in the glass to 
see the effect, and curled her frizzes round her 
finger. It was one of Edna’s besetting sins, 
this admiring herself in the mirror, and — to 
those who admire pink and white prettiness — 
the face she saw refiected there was very 
lovely. 

Susie fiushed deeply. . 

“ Did you notice anything very absurd this 
evening?” she asked, anxiously, and Satan 
had the pleasure of disturbing her spirit by 
the thought that Edna alluded to her testi- 
mony. 

Edna laughed. 

“ Of course you didn’t see anything but Dr. 
Gordon’s handsome face,” she said, “ I 
shouldn’t object to going to prayer-meeting 
myself, if I was sure of meeting him there. 
But the idea of being obliged to sit and hear 
some horrid old woman say : ‘ The blood of 


28 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Jesus Christ cleanseth me from all sin,’ is too 
absurd.” 

Susie was folding the pillow-shams, and she 
finished folding them, and laid them neatly in 
the drawer, before she answered : 

“ The Bible says, ‘ He is able to save them 
to the uttermost that come unto Grod by 
Him.’ ” 

“Humph!” said Edna contemptuously, 
“you are welcome to believe such nonsense; 
for my part, I don’t believe one word of it. I 
think religion is just another name for fanati- 
cism.” 

Saying which, she shut her lips with a dis- 
pute-me-if-you'-can expression, gave her hair 
an energetic twist, and went on with her elabo- 
rate preparations for the night. 

As for Susie, she drew her Bible to her and 
turned its leaves a little nervously. She was 
so unused to religious controversy, that 
Edna’s careless words jarred on her with 
positive pain. But a wonderful panacea for 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


29 


nervousness is the Bible, and, though Susie 
made no effort to read, the touch of its leaves 
quieted her. And then she was ready for her 
evening lesson, and she slowly read : 

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, 
and come after me, can not be my disciple.’’ 

Just there she paused, to ponder on what it 
really meant to “ come after” Christ. And she 
almost exclaimed aloud, so startling came the 
thought to her awakened soul, that it meant 
nothing more, nor less, from beginning to end, 
but the sacrifice of self. To followers of Him, 
the glorious leader, there was no promise given 
of temporal joy. He who said, “The heaven 
is my throne, and the earth is my footstool,” 
gave only peace to His disciples. To them 
He said : 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give 
unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto 
you.” 

‘‘ Must I, then, give up all desire for happi- 
ness in this world?” she mused sadly. Then 


30 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


a rare smile overspread her face as she 
thought, that, after all, the choice did not rest 
with her. And presently she dropped upon her 
knees, and laid all the tangles down into the 
Hand that overrules all things so wisely, and 
so well. Very sweet was the peace that settled 
down upon her then, and the head she laid 
upon her pillow was full of tranquil thoughts. 

The next morning, as they stood on the ve- 
randa, discussing their plans for the day, a 
firm, manly step startled them, and they turned 
quickly to greet Dr. Grordon. 

“Oh dear!’’ Edna said to herself, “I do 
hope he won’t talk religion.” 

But altogether too earnest was Dr. Gordon to 
let an opportunity pass without saying some 
word for his Master. 

“ Are you ready for work. Miss Keith ? ” he 
said presently. 

A rare glow spread over her face, but she 
answered quickly and truthfully : 


“Yes.” 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


31 


Dr. Gfordon looked kindly into the clear, 
true eyes, uplifted to his, then he turned and 
said, pleasantly : 

“We are sorely in need of workers, Miss 
By ford, can’t you lend us a helping hand ? ” 

Edna laughed. 

“ Why, Dr. Gordon, Pm a heathen ! she 
said, lightly. 

If she expected him to look shocked, or in 
any way dismayed at this startling announce- 
ment, she was mistaken. 

“Ah,” he said, quietly, “then I have a 
message for you. The King commissions me 
to invite you to a wedding ; but he bids me 
tell you that no guest will be admitted with- 
out a wedding-garment.” 

He smiled pleasantly as he spoke, and Edna 
was at a loss to know whether he was talking 
“religion” or not. Nevertheless, she had no 
ready answer to his words, so he continued : 

“ Come into my Bible-class next Sunday, 
and I will tell you all the particulars.” 


32 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

‘‘What do they do in a Bible-class she 
questioned, feeling that she must say some- 
thing. 

“We read the Bible, and study its beautiful 
lessons,” he answered. “Then we sing, and 
have a good time generally. But come and 
see for yourself.” 

There was silence for a moment, and then he 
easily brought on a conversation of every-day 
matters ; while Edna held a little talk with 
herself, that ran something in this way : 

“His Bible-class ! The idea ! What would 
the girls say to see me croning over the 
Bible?” 

Dr. Gfordon arose to go. 

“ I shall expect you next Sunday,” said he. 
And before she really knew it, Edna had 
promised to go. 

Well, Sunday came — a perfect day — and 
Edna’s first waking thought was of the 
“purple, and fine linen,” wherewith she 
meant to array herself. And not a thought 


By a Way that They Knew JSFot. 33 

liad slie for the solemn command, “Remember 
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 

After breakfast she went to her room, and, 
after a brief discussion with herself, proceeded 
to lay upon the bed the articles of her toilet. 
There was a silk, with Worth’s matchless 
style stamped upon it, and creamy laces; 
gloves, matching the exquisite brown of her 
dress, and a dainty hat, representing a fabu- 
lous sum of money. The little lady’s face 
was aglow with satisfaction as she inspected 
the elegant display, and she said to herself, 

“There, that will give the country people 
some idea of style.” 

And the early hours of the pure, sweet 
Sabbath morning went their way, while her 
mirror monopolized her thoughts. 

As for Susie, like an outgrowth of the pure, 
sweet day seemed she, as they walked down 
the quiet street to the church together. 


3 


CHAPTER IV. 


»NA settled herself, with all the grace 
imaginable, in a corner of the pew ; 
looking like a young princess in her 
elegant attire. 

“ ‘ What ! know ye not that your body is the 
temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, 
which ye have of God, and ye are not your 
own ? For ye are bought with a price : there- 
fore, glorify God in your body, and in your 
spirit, which are God’s,’ ” said Dr. Gordon. 

And Edna listened to the sublime words, 
toying carelessly with her fan, thinking the 
while what a commanding oratorical tableau 
he made ; with his erect, graceful figure, his 
native dignity, his splendid head, and his face 
all aglow with that inimitable light, heart- 
holiness gives to even the homeliest features. 

In order to illustrate such a theme a speaker 
( 34 ) ~ 



By a Way that They Knexo Wot. 


35 


must personally know whereof he speaks. 
But the doctor was fully equal to the occasion, 
and garlanded the old, old story with so many 
flowers of poetry and rhetoric that the entire 
congregation sat spell-bound from the text to 
the peroration. 

There is something contagious in religious 
enthusiasm, and Edna forgot her fan, forgot 
the effect of her dress, as she drank in the 
majestic sentences. 

When the speaker touched upon the doc- 
trine of holiness, and demonstrated how 
perfectly right and proper it was that a pro- 
fessing Christian’s heart and life should be 
pure and consecrated, her eyes began to dilate 
with wonder. 

Perhaps, if an older, or plainer man had 
spoken the same truths, she would not have 
been thus impressed. Be this as it may, this 
morning, for the lirst time, she comprehended 
the grandeur, and beauty, of the Christian 
religion. 


36 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


‘Wherefore, come out from among them, 
and be ye separate, saith the Lord,’ ” Dr. 
Gordon said. “ ‘ For none of us liveth to him- 
self, and no man dieth to himself. But ye are a 
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy 
nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should show 
forth the praises of Him who hath called you 
out of darkness, into His marvelous light.’ ” 

Edna listened breathlessly, thrilled through 
every nerve into an ecstasy of delight, until 
suddenly her attention was arrested by the 
sound of a loud whisper, in a childish voice, 
just behind her. 

“Mamma, mamma, isn’t that lady’s hat 
pretty ?” said the little one. 

And back to all the petty vanities came 
Edna’s thoughts. Dr. Gordon was very elo- 
quent ; but what was it, after all, to her ? Of 
course, to those who believed in the Bible, 
literally, it was well enough ; but the Bible 
was an old book, written for a different age 
and people than those of the present day. 


By a IVay that They Knew Not. 


37 


So Satan had the pleasure of turning her 
thoughts aside, and occupying them with her 
hat, and hair, and dress. And the grand 
hymn rolled through the church without 
touching her heart with its solemnity and 
beauty. Dr. Gordon had sown the seed, and 
God alone knew whether it would yield sixty 
or an hundred fold. 

‘‘What a grand sermon!” Susie said, as 
they walked slowly away. 

Edna shrugged her shoulders. 

“ If I believed one-half that Dr. Gordon said 
this morning, I should turn into a sister of 
charity, and have done with it,” she said, 
sharply. 

A few days later, a letter came from Nelson 
Keith, announcing his return. By this time, 
Edna had begun to feel herself in a strange 
atmosphere, without special gentlemanly at- 
tentions ; so, greatly delighted was she at the 
prospect of some one to “flirt” with. What 
was the use of witching ways, and wonderfully 


38 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


beautiful toilets, if there were no gentlemen to 
admire them % Thus she thought, foolish child 
that she was. 

Ah, a blessed thing it is, that the Heavenly 
Father watches his creatures lovingly, and, 
knowing the end from the beginning, “ leads 
them in paths that they have not known,” to 
Himself. But let no one imagine that Edna 
desired to be thus led. No, indeed ! To her, 
the “broad road” was much more delightful, 
and sweeter far — to her untrained taste — were 
the husks of gratified vanity, than the rich, 
satisfying viands on her Father’s table. So 
far, the husks had been sweet, and she had 
never once thought of the coming time, when 
the world, and its delusive pleasures, would 
utterly fail to satisfy her. Perhaps, then, it 
was not strange that she desired nothing bet- 
ter ; and not at all so that she should say to 
herself : 

“I declare, I haven’t had any fun since I 
came here ! I do hope Susie’ s brother will not 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


39 


be like Dr. Grordon. I don’t believe he knows 
pink from blue.” 

But quite mistaken was Edna in this. Dr. 
Gordon was not blind. 

• Well, the Keith family were particularly 
busy during the next few days. Edna in- 
spected her dainty wardrobe with reviving 
interest, and the important question that she 
tried to settle was, which of the elegant dresses 
would best suit the taste of Nelson Keith. No 
wonder the little lady was puzzled, for the va- 
riety was almost endless. There were dresses 
of mull, and silk, and wool, of every prevail- 
ing shade of color, each in its way a marvel of 
beauty. Now, which of this varied assortment 
to choose for the day of that gentleman’s ar- 
rival, was indeed a weighty question. Finally 
she said, decidedly : 

“I suppose he likes white, most gentlemen 
do, but — the blue is ever so much more becom- 
ing ; I believe I shall wear the blue.” 

Then her brow cleared, and she hummed 


40 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


little scraps of song, as she replaced the 
dresses in the closet. 

“Ok dear! I do hope he isn’t religious,” 
she said, presently. 

But in this she was doomed to disappoint- 
ment, for Nelson Keith’s religion was a part of 
his very being. Not making him long-faced 
and sober, beyond his years, but filling his life 
with a rich, deep, restful joy. 




OME, over the trackless waters, sped 
Nelson Keith. And the evening of a 
lovely summer day found him walking 
the familiar streets of his native village, with 
a strange feeling of loneliness at first, for his 
five years’ absence had made him almost a 
stranger to his home. People stared at him 
with well-bred curiosity, questioning who he 
was, and where his place of destination. 

The elegance of education and travel were 
visible in the tall, erect, graceful figure, 
the easy self-possession, the perfectly-fitted 
clothes — and, perhaps, his mother would look 
twice before she would recognize her boy in 
this tall, bearded man, with an air of manli- 
ness about his every motion. 

He looked very handsome to Susie when she 
(41) 



42 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


caught sight of him, moving briskly up the 
walk. 

“There’s Nelson ! ” she exclaimed to Edna, 
as she sprang forward to meet him. 

“This can’t be Susie!” he cried, holding 
her from him. “How you have changed; I 
should not have known you ! ” And then he 
almost smothered her with kisses. 

Outside the widely open door Mrs. Keith 
stood in waiting. 

“Nelson, my boy !” she said, and it is im- 
possible to convey to you a tithe of the joy, 
and tenderness, those brief words of welcome 
expressed. 

Nelson Keith spoke no word, save “Mother!” 
but his manly lip quivered with repressed emo- 
tion, as he folded her close in his strong, young 
arms. 

“Now I must introduce you to Edna,” Susie 
said, presently. 

“Edna,” he repeated, with just the slightest 
rising inflection of voice, “have you com- 
pany?” 


By a 'Way that They Knew Not. 


43 


“ A school friend of Susie’s, passing the 
summer vacation with her,” returned Mrs. 
Keith. 

“And I hope your heart is well guarded,” 
laughed Susie, “ for Edna is quite irresistible.” 

“That important fortress is impregnable,” 
he answered, smiling, and every feature of his 
expressive face spoke of a heart held in firm 
control. 

Then Susie flew away, and present!}' re- 
turned with Edna, looking like a painter’s 
dream of beauty in her dainty suit of delicate 
blue, and a soft pink flushing her cheek. 

“Edna, allow me to introduce to you my 
brother, Mr. Keith : Nelson, this is my friend. 
Miss Byford,” said Susie.. ^ 

At that moment the tea-bell sounded, and 
he gallantly offered Miss Edna his arm. 

Perhaps none of them could appreciate what 
a delight that supper was to Nelson Keith. 
And certainly the room, arranged with every 
detail of modern elegance, — the table with its 


44 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


snowy linen, glittering glass and shining 
silver, — made an enticing picture for the 
wanderer’s eyes. Then, Edna suited his 
aesthetic taste, and her cool, charming pres- 
ence contributed not a little to his pleasure. 

“Ah, there’s no place like home!” he 
exclaimed, and his face took a satisfied ex- 
pression that his mother knew well how to 
interpret. 

Nelson had always been elegant ; his father 
had often said of him, “ The boy has an ar- 
tist’s eye for beauty.” And his mother, 
watching her son’s expressive face, wondered 
whether this love of the beautiful would be 
his good, or evil genius. 

“ I can appreciate your feelings, Mr. Keith,” 
said Edna, ‘ ^ I shall never forget how pleasant 
our table at home looked when I returned 
from boarding-school, nor how much the 
coarse table linen, and plated silver, annoyed 
me while there.” 

“You are so fastidious, I don’t see how you 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


45 


endured boarding-school life at all,’’ laughed 
Susie. 

“ What can’t be cured, must be endured,” 
Nelson answered, smiling. 

“ I intend to take the sunny side of life, and 
leave the endurance to those who like it,” 
Edna retorted, pertly. 

Nelson Keith favored her with a look, half 
serious, half amused. 

“If the storms of life reach your sunny side, 
what then ? ” he said. 

“ O, I’ll invest in a strong umbrella, that 
will shield me from them,” she answered, 
laughing. 

“I know of but one safe refuge in time of 
storm,” he said, gravely. ‘ ‘ The Bible tells us, 

‘ There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in 
the daytime from the heat, and for a place of 
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from 
rain.’ If you have this umbrella. Miss Byford, 
you are safe.” 

“When the storm comes, it will be time 


46 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


enough to think about a shelter,” she answered, 
flippantly. 

And then they arose from the table, and took 
their way to the back parlor. Nelson went 
over to the piano and opened it, saying, — 

“You play and sing. Miss Byford?” 

“Oh, Edna is a musical prodigy,” said 
Susie, glad to have her friend appreciated. 

Edna’s face flushed delicately, and she 
looked up at him with a smile, that seemed 
sweet and shy. Then she seated herself at the 
piano, and her white fingers danced over the 
keys, bringing forth strains of wonderful mu- 
sic. And presently she sang, with touching 
pathos, that sweet song, “ Home Again.” 

“ Now I am going to ask you to sing one of 
my favorites,” Nelson said: 

“ * Thus far the Lord hath led me on, 

Thus far His power prolongs my days ; 

And every evening shall make known 
Some fresh memorial of his grace.’ ” 

The familiar hymn was new to Edna, but her 
splendid voice burst forth in the grand old 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


47 


tune, and Nelson Keith’s rich bass, mingled 
with her clear soprano. 

There was absolute silence for a moment ; 
then, with the spell of the music still lingering 
around them, Mrs. Keith asked her son to lead 
their family devotions. Without a moment’s 
hesitancy he knelt, and, before Edna’s thoughts 
were composed after the singing, they were 
startled anew by the voice of prayer. 

Now, this kneeling in the family circle was a 
novel experience to Edna. And when Nelson 
Keith spoke of her as “this stranger beneath 
our roof, who is a stranger to Thee., her best 
friend,” she hastily wiped away a falling tear. 
Yery earnest was his voice as he went on: 
“ And now, dear Father, we ask Thee to give 
her a blessing, suited to her need. We do not 
need to tell Thee anything about her, for there 
is not a thought of her mind, or an inclination 
of her heart, but lo ! 0 Lord, Thou knowest it 
altogether.” 

Never before had Edna heard herself spe- 


48 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


dally prayed for. And startling indeed was 
the thought, that her very inmost, secret 
thoughts were open to the All-seeing Eye. 

There were pleasant “good-nights,” after 
this ; then she went away to her room, and 
stood by the open window. 

“A lovely place I’ve chosen to pass my 
vacation, and have a good time ! ” she said to 
herself. “ Why, there’s some one to talk, or 
sing, or look religion at every corner.” 

Then she thought how handsome, and thor- 
oughly manly, Nelson Keith appeared, and the 
contrast between him and the silly exquisites 
of her set, was anything but flattering to most 
of the young gentlemen of her acquaintance. 

It .was not Edna’ s forte to think very seri- 
ously about anything; and never in her life 
before had she been thrown for so long a time 
with thoughtful people. So, perhaps it was 
not strange that she felt tired, and disgusted 
with everybody in general, and herself in par- 
ticular. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


49 


‘‘It is unutterably stupid,” she said, still 
talking to herself, “and I don't intend to 
stand it any longer. I’ll write to mamma to- 
night, and tell her to write for me to come 
home. 

So she seated herself, and wrote thus : 

Dear Mamma: 

I know you will laugh at me when I tell you that I want 
to come home. But, I have heard more preaching, and pray- 
ing, since I came here, than I ever heard in my life before, 
and I am heartily tired of it. 

Susie, and indeed the whole family, are just splendid, and 
I wouldn’t have them know for the world why I am leaving. 
So, mamma dear, I want you to write some urgent reason why 
I should start for home. 

With love, and kisses, 

Edna. 

She folded and addressed her letter, with a 
satisfied smile. And, unconsciously humming 
the tune she had just sung with Nelson Keith, 
she began to prepare for rest, and presently 
she laid her head on her pillow. 

But sleep did not come for the asking, and 
she tossed about uneasily until, overcome by 

fatigue, she dropped into a restless slumber. 

4 


50 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


And then, she dreamed that she was out in 
mid-ocean, in a tiny boat. The great waves 
threatened to engulf her, when suddenly the 
tall form of Nelson Keith rose from the raging 
waters. He grasped the trembling boat with a 
firm, strong hold, as he said, calmly, ‘^Be 
still; I will save you.” 




CHAPTER VI. 


^LL the while she was dressing, she 
thought of her dream, and a little 
shudder ran through her as she lived 
over again the terror of the night. 

declare. I’m getting nervous!” she ex- 
claimed, petulantly. “And no wonder, listen- 
ing to nothing but preaching, from morning 
till night. One thing is certain. I’m going 
home, and it will be one long while before I 
listen to another sermon.” 

While she was talking, she arranged every 
fold, and ruffle, of her elaborate morning dress, 
with more than usual care. And when the 
breakfast bell rang, she cleared her face, gave 
a parting look in the glass, and a moment 
later presented a smiling face at the break- 
fast table. 


( 51 ) 


52 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


After breakfast, sbe wandered away by her- 
self into the conservatory. And there Nelson 
found her, apparently absorbed in admiring 
a beautiful calla lily. He severed the stately 
blossom from its stem, and handed it to her, 
saying : 

“You remember who said, ‘Behold the 
lilies of the field, they toil not, neither do they 
spin ; and yet I say unto you, that even Solo- 
mon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one 
of these. 

How could she give a quick retort to words 
like those ? And again she stood silent before 
him, looking down at the waxen purity of the 
flower she held in her hand. 

“It is simply perfect,” she said, at last. 

“It is so in Nature’s works always,” he 
answered. “From this stately lily, to the 
smallest field-flower, there are no rough edges, 
no unfinished pieces. Every tiny leaf fits into 
its allotted place, with a niceness of finish no 
hand but the Almighty hand can give. Look 


By a Way that They Kneio Kot. 


53 


at this pansy ; see the royal purple shading 
away to faintest tint of yellow ; an artist might 
waste a lifetime, before he could design a 
thing so perfect.” 

She looked up into his earnest, manly face, 
with a bewildered look of surprise. And he 
added, gently : — 

“While looking at Nature’s works, it seems 
natural to think of Nature’s God. While 
looking at the gift, it seems impossible to for- 
get the giver.” 

Now, extremely disgusted as Miss Edna was 
with sermonizing, there was something in Nel- 
son Keith’ s low, serious voice, and grave, kind 
manner, that moved her in spite of herself. 
She tried to make a careless answer ; then, 
moved by a sudden impulse, and not giving 
herself time to think, she said, almost petu- 
lantly : 

“I believe, if I remain here much longer, I 
shall be almost persuaded to be a Christian 
too.” 


54 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


And Nelson answered, earnestly, “‘I wish 
thou wert, not only almost, but altogether, per- 
suaded.’ ” 

Just then came Susie, to announce that a 
picnic had been planned for the day. 

“ The carriage will be at the door in half an 
hour,” she said. 

Whereupon Edna escaped to her room. 

“I expect they’ll turn it into a prayer-meet- 
ing ! ” she said, desperately. “ He’s the worst 
one of them all ! Why, if he looked at me 
that way long, I should do something foolish.” 

She went on with her toilet, as she talked, 
not forgetting to make herself as charming as 
possible. 

“Be sure and put your journal in your 
pocket, Mr. Keith,” she said, when she met 
him in the hall. “You haven’t told us any- 
thing about your travels, and it will be nice to 
have you read to us when we are tired.” 

“ Is it best for me to humor this young lady, 
mother?” he said, laughingly. 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


55 


Mrs. Keith smiled, — a rich, happy smile. 
Her son was so very dear to her heart, could 
there be anything about his journeyings that 
would not be of interest to her % 

“Why not?” she asked, eagerly. “It 
would be delightful to hear of your travels.” 

“If nothing more, you can read us to 
sleep,” said Edna, naively. 

Nelson laughed. 

““Now I shall take it, just to punish you,” 
he said, gayly. 

And then he ran lightly up- stairs to get it. 

Meantime the coming of the carriage was 
heralded. 

“ Sure, an’ the carriage is afther bein’ at the 
door,” said Pat. 

And a moment later they were speeding 
away in the glorious summer sunshine. 

Perhaps none of them would ever forget that 
drive. They laughed, they talked, they sang. 
At every step they stirred odorous mosses, and 
the cloudless summer morning waxed indolent- 


56 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


ly on toward splendid noon. And presently 
grove-crowned Beach Hill appeared in view. 

‘‘Now for a game of croquet,” said Edna. 
“Mr. Keith, I challenge you for the first 
game.” 

So, behold them, half an hour after, spinning 
the balls over the ground. 

Now, it so happened that Nelson Keith was 
a champion player, and Miss Edna soon found 
that she had more than her match to deal with. 

“I’m playing abominably,” she said, some- 
what testily, throwing down her mallet. 

Whereupon Susie clapped her hands. 

“Do you acknowledge yourself beaten?” 
she said. 

“I confess to being hungry,” Edna returned, 
laughingly. 

“An’ dinner’s afther bein’ ready,” an- 
nounced Bridget at that moment. 

What a delightful dinner it was, to be sure. 
And how they all enjoyed the tempting deli- 
cacies Mrs. Keith had provided. 


By a Way that They Kneio Kot. 


57 


After dinner they lounged idly on the grass 
for awhile. Then Edna said, roguishly : 

‘‘Where’s your journal, Mr. Keith? I’m 
sleepy, and perhaps you could read me to 
sleep.” 

She looked like an artless child as she 
leaned carelessly against a giant tree, and 
Nelson Keith stood regarding her with an 
amused smile. He had never come in contact 
with just such an exquisite thistle-down speci- 
men of femininity before, and he observed the 
little lady, with her bright, coquettish ways 
and winning smile, with a good deal of wonder. 
Evidently she resented anything like serious 
talk, whereas light small-talk, and jesting, were 
her peculiar forte. Thus much close watch- 
ing revealed to him. 

“She is a little bundle of vanity,” he said to 
himself, an amused smile hovering around his 
lips. Then, aloud : 

“My dear Miss Byford, you have no idea 
what you are asking. However, you have 


58 


By a Way that They Kyiew Not. 


brought the infliction on yourself, so you must 
not complain if it is severe.” 

And while he said this, he drew the journal 
from his pocket. 

“Dear me!” said Edna, laughing, “you 
quite frighten me, Mr. Keith.” 




CHAPTER VII. 

I will not wait to be urged,” 
said, smiling. “ My first entry 
ated June 12, 18 — : 

I am pacing the deck in the absolute still- 
ness of midnight, on mid- ocean. Not a sound 
breaks the silence but the ripple of the waters, 
as we plough our trackless way through them. 
In mid-heavens hangs the great silvery moon, 
lighting up the weirdly beautiful picture, until 
I feel like exclaiming : “ And behold, the glory 
of the Grod of Israel came from the way of the 
East : and his voice was like a noise of many 
waters : and the earth shined with his glory ! ” 
Liverpool, July 3. — What a rest to be on 
land again ; but, as there is nothing remarka- 
ble about Liverpool, I shall speed away to 

London, thence across the channel to Paris. 

( 59 ) 



60 


By a TFay that They ICnew Not, 


Paeis, July 20. — The grand capital of “La 
Belle France” is one of the wonders of the 
world. And what an overwhelming number 
of things there are to be seen, to be sure. 
The Garden of the Tuileries, the Champs Ely- 
sees, the Louvre, the Palais Royal, the Hotel 
des Invalides, the Columns of Yendome, the 
Arc de Triomphe ; the Seine, with its twenty- 
seven beautiful bridges, and the one hundred 
or more churches of the city, all go to form a 
grand spectacle. The Church of Notre Dame 
is considered one of the finest monuments of 
its particular style of architecture in France. 

July 23. — To-day I visited Fontainbleau, 
which is about forty miles southeast of Paris. 
After walking through the Palace Garden, I 
was conducted through forty-one rooms of the 
palace, and at last found myself in the very 
room, standing by the very table on which 
Napoleon signed his abdication, prior to his 
departure for Elba ; also, the identical room 
where the fatal decree was pronounced that 


By a TFay that They Knew Not. 


61 


separated him from Josephine. Alas ! what 
an empty bauble ambition is. What a con- 
trast between the great emperor, and the 
Napoleon who, with his armies scattered, his 
empire broken, his fame tarnished, died alone 
upon the bleak rock of St. Helena. 

Home, September 4. — Through scenery unsur- 
passed in its wondrous grandeur and beauty, 
I at last reached Grenoa, and from there, by 
steamer, to Home. And now, with my own 
eyes, I behold the “Eternal City,’’— grand, 
historic, ancient Home ; the seat of the Caesars, 
of whom I have read so much. It is impossi- 
ble to describe it ; it is impossible to convey 
an idea of the picture Home presents, seated 
on her seven hills, and surrounded by the 
mountain ranges of Soracte, Albano, and the 
Apennines on one side, and the broad plain 
and distant sea on the other. Away across the 
Tiber, on the extreme eastern border, stands 
St. Peter’s, in all its glory ; while in the south- 
ern suburbs, are the Colosseum, the Temple of 


62 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


Yesta, the Arch of Constantine, and the ruins 
of the Palace of the Csesars, the Temples of 
Saturn and Vespasian, and of Constantine’s 
Temple of Peace. In the centre of the city is 
the Pantheon, erected by Marcus Agrippa, a 
quarter of a century before Christ ; a little to 
the left, the Trojan Column, and out by the 
Homan Forum and Palatine Hill, the eye 
traces the main avenue leading to the Appian 
Way, one of the great high-roads in the Cam- 
pagna. These are only a few of the prominent 
objects that meet my eye, as I stand here 
exultant at the long-coveted sight. 

September 6. — No, it is not a dream ! I have 
stood beneath the dome of St. Peter’s, and 
upon my astonished gaze has burst its re- 
splendent light, magnificence, and beauty. But, 
beyond all powers of description is the vast 
cathedral. I can only stand lost in wonder at 
its immensity. I do not wonder that Men- 
delssohn said: ^‘It appears to me like some 
great work of Nature, — a forest, a mass of 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


63 


rocks, or something similar ; for I never can 
realize that it is the work of man.” 

Yenice, October 4. — How can I describe 
Venice? How bring before yon a city that 
has canals instead of streets, gondolas instead 
of carriages? The Grand Canal is lined with 
magnificent old palaces, rising up from the 
sea, and it requires only a little stretch of the 
imagination to fancy a spy lurking in every 
massive door-way. The Palace of the Doges 
presents a beautiful front toward the sea, and 
nearly opposite to St. Mark’s is the campanile 
of that church, a square tower, three hundred 
and twenty-two feet in height, affording a mag- 
nificent view of the city, and country, and 
Adriatic sea, for miles around. 

Yesterday, when I was in a gondola on the 
Grand Canal, I passed beneath the Bridge of 
Sighs, and I almost held my breath to listen 
for the slow, mournful step of some prisoner 
going to his doom. Ah ! Venice by moonlight 
is especially beautiful, but a feeling of sadness 


64 By a Way that They Kneio Not. 

steals over me in ttie profound silence of the 
place. 

Rome, January 1, 18 — . — I have decided to 
pass the remainder of the winter in “ Sunny 
Italy.” And even then, if I see all there is to 
see, I shall not have done sight-seeing. I 
begin to think there is no limit to the churches 
in Rome ; but it would be too tedious to enu- 
merate, or attempt to describe, either them, 
or the statues, and relics, and curiosities, and 
paintings, — whose names are legion, — that are 
huddled together in my mind. Particularly 
beautiful, however, are Raphael’s ‘‘Transfig- 
uration,” and “ The Last Judgment,” by 
Michael Angelo. Last night, I went to see the 
Colosseum by moonlight ; and very aptly Lord 
Byron describes it : 

“ I do remember me, that, in my j’^outh, — 

When I was wandering, — upon such a night 
I stood within the Colosseum’s wall, 

’Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome; 

The trees, which grew along the broken arches, 

Waved dark in the blue midnight, and the stars 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


65 


Shone through the rents of ruin ; from afar 
The watch-dog bay’d beyond the Tiber; and 
More near, from out the Caesars’ Palace, came 
The owl’s long cry, and, interruptedly, 

Of distant sentinels, the fitful song 
Begun and died upon the gentle wind.” 

Naples, January 20. — Yesterday I made a 
flying visit to Pompeii, and was guided from 
street to street, and from house to house, 
walking ovej* three hours ; and yet, I explored 
only a small portion of the ruins. In some of 
the shops the marble counters are still stand- 
ing, and in a bakery, the large oven, in which 
a batch of bread was found burned to char- 
coal, still remains intact. The villa of Dio- 
medes is one of the most extensive private 
residences yet discovered, and near the garden 
gate of this villa was found the skeleton of the 
owner, holding in his hand the keys of the 
villa. “Surely!’’ I exclaim, “the Master’s 
words are true : ‘ Then shall two be in the field; 
the one shall be taken, and the other left.’ ” 

Lucerne, June 10. — And now I turn from 
5 


66 


By a Way that They Knew JSfot. 


Art to Nature, and from Nature up to Nature’s 
God. Yes, I have seen Mont Blanc, the Al- 
pine monarch, towering over twelve thousand 
feet above me, in its solitary grandeur. And I 
seem raised, as it were, above the bustling, anx- 
ious world, to Him that sitteth on the throne, 
as I pause to remember how, leaving the low 
valleys and dead levels behind, and wiping the 
city’s dust from His sandals. He sought the 
soaring solitude of the mountain’s summit, to 
meditate, and commune with God. And how 
intimately mountains are connected with His 
memory. It was a mountain where He 
preached ; it was a mountain where He was 
transfigured ; it was a mountain from which He 
ascended. Then, who can stand upon Mont 
Blanc’s dizzy summit, with the rugged peaks 
of many other mountains before him, and not 
think of “The place called Calvary,” and the 
Cross. 

Dresden, July 1. — The pride and glory of 
Dresden is the great Madonna of Haphael’s, 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


67 


and, like the other great pictures, in their sev- 
eral places, it is set there so it can not be 
removed. Wonderful, indeed, is this famous 
painting, with its dim, heavenly radiance, and 
angelic crowd pressing eagerly forward, to 
see the Savior of the world, — a babe in his 
mother’s arms. Many other celebrated pict- 
ures there are in the picture galleries, but 
this one has a separate room devoted to its 
exhibition. 

Antwerp, July 20. — Here, in the principal 
cathedral — in strong contrast to Raphael’s Ma- 
donna — is the great masterpiece of Rubens, 
‘‘ The Descent from the Cross.” Surely, never 
was agony and death touched with such 
masterly force. The pallid sweat upon the 
brow ; the helplessly swaying figure, that piti- 
ful arms are outstretched to loosen from the 
wounding spikes ; the white linen sheet, which 
tender respect is spreading to receive the 
sliding body, are so vividly Teal that I almost 
raised my arms to help support the precious 


68 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


burden. Ah ! what a tale of heroic suffering 
do those still features tell. And yet, the main 
expression of the countenance is not of agony 
or death. The final quiver on those lips was 
not of pain, but prayer. I think the inspired 
Watts must have stood before this picture 
when he wrote : 

“ Wlien I survey the wondrous cross 
On which the Prince of Glory died, 

My richest gain I count but loss, 

And pour contempt on all my pride.” 

“Oh, Nelson!” Susie said, breathlessly, 
“How I wish I could see it ! ” 

He smiled down into the sweet, eager face, 
as he answered, 

“Perhaps you will some day, little one. 
Who knows?” 

And then the sun dropped down behind the 
distantly outlined hills, leaving in its wake a 
rosy glow, as they took their homeward way 
in the summer twilight. 



CHAPTER yill. 



^/HE very next day the morning mail 
I brought a letter for Edna. 


“And none for me,” said Susie, 
pretending to pout. 

Edna laughed. 

“I will share mine with you,” she said, 
handing Susie a daintily written epistle. 

It was an answer to Edna’s letter, and one 
sentence was as follows : 

“ Charlie is getting up a camping party, and 
wants you to join it. They start about the 
fifteenth, so you had better make your plans 
accordingly.” 

“But we can’t let you go!” cried Susie. 
“It will spoil all my plans for the summer 1 ” 


( 69 ) 


70 By a Way that They Kneio JTot. 

“And there is Mrs. Tremain’s party on the 
twentieth,” said Nelson, looking up archly 
into Edna’s flushed, eager face. 

The little lady blushed a little, and looked 
really regretful, for the Hon. Mrs, Tremain 
was a social star of such magnitude that even 
Tier aristocratic light quite paled before it. 
And then, this party was of more than com- 
mon interest, as it was given in honor of Nel- 
son’s home-coming, so of course he would be 
the lion of the evening. 

“I’ll write to mamma, and postpone going 
until after that,” she said, decisively. 

“I wouldn’t miss sharing your honors, Mr. 
Keith, for anything,” she added, laughing. 

Nelson bowed with mock gravity. 

“1 shall expect you to bear your share 
meekly,” he answered, smiling. 

“ O, Edna will accept them as a matter of 
course,” said Susie, laughing. 

Whereupon Edna tossed her pretty head, 
and laughed brightly. 


.By a Way that They Knew Not. 


71 


“We must have a boat-ride before Edna 
goes,” Susie said, presently. 

“A boat-ride ! ” cried Edna. “How charm- 
ing.” 

“And why not to-day?” J^Telson said. 
“ The day is perfect.” 

“True enough,” said Mrs. Keith. “If you 
carry out Susie’s programme for Edna’s visit, 
there is no time to spare.” 

“Wouldn’t it be delightful if we met with 
some startling adventure,” Edna said, look- 
ing up into Nelson Keith’s face with that 
indescribable air of mingled childishness and 
coquetry. 

“We’ll gather pond lilies, Edna,” said 
Susie, “and perhaps you can manage to 
tumble out of the boat ; that would be a 
remarkable event.” 

“The idea ! ” said Miss Edna. “ Why, that 
would take all the crimp out of my hair, and 
make me look horrid generally. No indeed, I 
prefer smooth sailing, after ail.” 


72 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


During this conversation, Nelson stood, one 
hand idly toying with his watch chain, his 
eyes on Edna’s face. Evidently, she both 
amused and puzzled him. 

After that, the talk drifted into preliminary 
arrangements for the excursion. 

“Of course we’ll want a nice lunch, mam- 
ma,” said Susie. 

“Don’t forget to put in some of those nice 
cream biscuit, Mrs. Keith,” supplemented 
Edna. 

“Cold chicken wouldn’t be amiss,” added 
Nelson. “By the way, three is always a 
crowd ; perhaps we had better invite Dr. Gor- 
don, to make an even number.” 

Edna gave her shoulders the least little 
suggestive shrug, which, interpreted, meant : 
“Now for another prayer-meeting.” 

Well, the final preparations were quickly 
made, the lunch duly packed, and two hours 
later they were floating idly with the current. 

Back among the cushions sat Edna, her hat 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


73 


trimmed, and lap filled, with waxen pond 
lilies. And presently she sang : 

“ No more, no more, 

The worldly shore, 

Upbraids me with its loud uproar! 

With dreamful eyes, 

My spirit lies 

Under the walls of Paradise ! ” 

Then, thrilling as a blast of trumpets, hush- 
ing them into absolute, terrified stillness, came 
a sharp peal of thunder. 

‘‘It’s going to rain!” cried Edna, with a 
white, startled face. 

“‘Grod is our refuge and strength, a very 
present help in trouble. Therefore will not we 
fear, though the earth be removed, though the 
mountains be carried into the midst of the 
sea.’ ” 

It was Dr. Gordon’s quiet voice repeated 
the re-assuring words. And Nelson Keith 
added : 

“ He plants His footsteps on the sea. 

And rides upon the storm.” 


74 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

Then they both worked with superhuman 
strength to steer their frail boat toward an 
island. Meanwhile, the dense, black clouds 
rolled on, like devouring wild beasts. Down 
came the rain in torrents, while ever and anon 
the vivid lightning flashed over the awful 
scene. 

During all the turmoil and terror, Susie sat 
immovable, with hands tightly clenched, eyes 
dilated, and lips firmly closed. While Edna 
gave way to the wildest alarm, she uttered not 
a sound. And yet she was speaking, earnest- 
ly beseeching God to hold them securely in the 
hollow of His mighty hand. As for Dr. Gor- 
don, his thoughts flew back to a little storm- 
tossed ship, on the sea of Galilee. And, — so 
vividly did the picture come before him, — it 
almost seemed to him that the Master must be 
lying asleep in their boat, and he well-nigh 
held his breath to listen to the low, calm, 
‘‘ Peace, be still ! ” 

Presently the angry clouds belched forth 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 75 

their awful fury in a frightful, deafening clap. 
Edna sprang wildly from her seat, the rocking 
boat tipped, and the flashing lightning revealed 
her struggling in the water. Instantly Dr. 
Grordon followed her. Once, twice, she went 
down before him ; then he desperately clutched 
her long, golden hair, floating out upon the 
turbid water, and gently drew hqr to him. 
And then, — such is weak human nature, — 
a jealous pang shot through Susie Keith’s 
heart. Then she grasped the deserted oars 
with heroic strength, and just as Dr. Gordon 
reached the island with his lifeless burden. 
Nelson Keith sprang to his assistance. 

By this time the summer storm had done its 
worst, and the thunder was dying away in low, 
muttering growls. 

“Is she dead. Nelson?” questioned Susie, 
every nerve quivering under this terrible strain. 

“Tear open her clothes! Let us turn her 
over!” he said, in a clear, calm tone. “No, 
not so, — so. I wish we had some flannel.” 


76 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Without a moment’s hesitation, Susie un- 
fastened her under-skirt, and tore it in pieces. 

‘‘Susie, you rub her chest,” said Nelson, 
presently. “Rub upward.^ not down, — I’ll 
show you.” 

Poor Susie ! Nothing but a strong self-con- 
trol prevented her from fainting, and so adding 
to the excitement. 

They worked on silently for awhile, then 
Nelson looked at his watch, as if it held the 
arrested heart-beats of the life for which they 
fought. A moment more, and a slight quiver 
ran through the lifeless form, — so slight at 
first that Nelson hardly dared to believe it was 
a sign of life. He stooped to count the dick- 
ering pulse, and then her great eyes opened, 
and looked wonderingly into his. 

“Where am IP’ she asked, attempting to 
rise. 

“You are safe,” he answered, gently. 

‘ ‘ Who are you f ’ ’ she asked again, still 
looking at him confusedly. 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 77 

“I am Dr. Keith, at your service,’’ he said, 
smiling. 

‘‘ How fortunate that we had a doctor with 
us,” said Susie. 

“Yes, I think it Nelson answered, 

gravely. 

Then Edna remembered, and shuddered 
when she thought how very, very near she 
had been to death. She lay quite motionless, 
with closed eyes, for a moment, then she turned 
suddenly to Nelson. 

“ What if I had died. Dr. Keith ! ” she said. 

And her white face expressed all the horror 
and dismay she felt at the thought. 

For one brief instant he hesitated. Was it 
a fitting time, or place, for him to say anything 
but tranquilizing words to this frightened little 
lady ? he questioned within himself. Then, he 
turned toward her, and it would be impossible 
to describe the exceeding gentleness of his 
voice, and manner, as he said : 

“The Bible says: ‘Be ye, therefore, ready 


78 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

also : for in such an hour as ye think not, the 
Son of Man cometh.’ ” 

She did not saj^ to herself, “Preaching again.” 
She had been too near death for that. But she 
looked with earnest, wistful eyes up into his, 
and said : 

“ Oh, Dr. Keith, it must be terrible to die ! ’’ 

He did not attempt to answer her in his own 
words, and his voice had a ring of solemn joy, 
as he repeated : 

“And I heard a voice from heaven, saying 
unto me, ‘Write, Blessed are the dead, who 
die in the Lord.’ ” 

At this point, Susie interrupted them. 

“How for some luncheon,” she said, cheerily. 

“And then, for home, and some dry cloth- 
ing,” said Helson. 

Not a trace of the sudden, summer storm 
remained. The sweet stillness around them, 
and the indescribable freshness born of the 
shower, and the sunlight coming down out of 
the blue above, all spoke of peace; when, a half 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


79 


hour later, they took their homeward way. 
Whatever world of fear Edna might be grop- 
ing in, things outside her were unchanged. 
She sat silent, drinking in the river air with a 
little shudder. And between her and the sun- 
light, stood that terrible, pursuing phantom — 
Death. 

Oh, that dreadful plunge into the water! 
and that going down, down, in his awful em- 
brace. All her life she had been so afraid of 
the frightful spectre, never allowing herself to 
think of him, ignoring his very existence. 
And here he had actually forced himself upon 
her notice. Could it be possible, that some- 
time, — willing or not,— she must yield to his 
control % Was there no way to evade his re- 
morseless grasp? 

Even to her pillow, these gloomy thoughts 
followed, and she tossed, and turned herself, 
then thumped and turned her pillow ; but, try 
as best she could, it was impossible to banish 
the fearful ‘‘ might hare been ” from her mind. 


80 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


The tormenting question would repeat itself : 
“If Dr. Keith had not been there, I might 
have died ! What then?” At last, she grew 
quite desperate, so she arose, threw a light 
wrap around her, and nestled up in the broad 
window-seat. 

“If I could only think of something else,” 
she said. 

And Satan, ever watchful, suggested Mrs. 
Tremain’s party, — and what should she wear 
to it? 

“Let me see,” she said, “I must write to 
mamma to-morrow, and have my dress ordered. 
I think cream satin will be just lovely, and that 
elegant lace over-dress papa gave me last Christ- 
mas will be just the thing. And, I guess, I’ll 
wear my diamonds. The Sycamore girls will 
go just wild with envy, when they see them?'^ 

By this time, the little lady’s thoughts were 
thoroughly diverted, and before she left the 
window, she had every minute detail of her 
magnificent toilet planned. 



CHAPTER IX. 


WN due time the evening of the party came ; 
W and Edna, resplendent in creamy satin, 
^ and diamonds, entered the room where 
Nelson Keith waited for her. 

Beautiful? Why, if she had just stepped 
from some painter’s canvas she could not have 
made a lovelier picture. She entered the room 
with inimitable grace, and Nelson ' Keith’s 
beauty-loving eyes took in at a glance every 
detail, — from the golden hair, caught care- 
lessly by a diamond spray, to the satin slip- 
pers- and perfectly fitting gloves ; and you will 
admit that it was by no means strange that 
those same eyes expressed admiration. Now, 
Edna was well versed in the wa^^s of gentle- 
men, but she was not conversant with the fact 
6 ( 81 ) 


82 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

that admiration and esteem may mean two 
very different things. So, when her heart 
gave a little, exultant bound at the thought 
of this last conquest, she did not know that 
IN'elson Keith would have bestowed the same 
look on a landscape painting, where all the 
exquisite tints of color were blended into one 
perfect harmony. 

‘‘Ah, is this Miss By ford, or some fairy 
queen that has deigned to honor me with her 
presence r’ he said, smiling. 

Edna laughed her sweet, silvery laugh. 

“ If I was a fairy queen,” she said, “do you 
know what I would do % ” 

“Perhaps you would have a pumpkin char- 
iot, and go to the party Cinderella fashion,” he 
answered, laughing. 

“No, indeed!” she said, decisively, “I 
would stretch forth my sceptre and banish 
care, and sorrow, from the world. 

She toyed carelessly with her fan as she 
spoke, but in her blue eyes there was a look 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


83 


of thoughtfulness. And Nelson, seeing the 
look, answered gravely : 

“The Bible tells us: ‘ Oodly sorrow worketh 
repentance unto salvation.’ ” 

Edna gave her head a little, impatient 
toss. 

“ Now, Mr. Keith, don’t talk religion 1 ” she 
exclaimed, turning upon him with a half- 
imperious, half* appealing gesture. “Besides, 
I don’t believe one word of the nonsense any- 
way,” she went on, desperately. “I believe if 
we are to be saved, we shall be, and that is all 
there is about it.” 

“ It is written : ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved,’” he returned, 
quietly. 

She glanced at him quickl}^ Perhaps she 
expected he would be shocked, or displeased. 
But not a feature of his finely cut face betrayed 
either surprise or vexation. And before she 
had time to reply, a servant opened the door 
and announced the carriage. 


84 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Meanwhile, Susie had been sitting for half an 
hour with her mother. 

‘ ‘ O mamma,” she had said, when she entered 
the room, “you never in your life saw any- 
thing so pretty as Edna is to-night ! ” 

Mrs. Keith only smiled quietly at her daugh- 
ter’ s enthusiasm. Then she gently arranged 
the misplaced leaf of a waxen tube-rose at her 
throat, before she answered : 

“‘The King’s daughter is all glorious 
within.,'^ darling.” 

Susie’s sweet face flushed a brighter glow. 

“ Yes, I know what you mean, mamma,” she 
said. 

. “And this glorious inner beauty never 
fades,” Mrs. Keith continued, “but will grow 
fairer, and more lovely, as the years go by, 
until we awake, satisfied with His likeness.” 

“ But you don’t think it wrong to want to 
look nice, mamma % ” said Susie, looking down 
dubiously, at her delicate pink-tinted dress of 
silk. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


85 


“God clothes the flowers in becoming 
array,” Mrs. Keith answered, “and makes 
the summer bright and joyous by their -pres- 
ence. He fashioned the tube-rose at your 
throat, in its waxen beauty, and gave to it its 
exquisite perfume. But, without its sweet 
fragrance, the flower would lose its most 
potent charm. So, darling, purity of charac- 
ter enhances human loveliness, and adds the 
crowning grace to form and feature. ‘Seek 
first the kingdom of God, and His righteous- 
ness,’ is the divine command. If we do this, 
there is little danger that our thoughts will 
be engrossed with empty pride.” 

Mrs. Keith looked down into her fair young 
daughter’s face as she said this. Then she 
stooped, and kissed the delicate, flushed cheek 
tenderly. 

And Susie had a gem of thought to carry 
with her to the party. And all through the 
evening, she moved serenely amid the brilliant 
throng, wondering within herself how many 


86 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


of the people there assembled, possessed this 
everlasting beauty. 

The Tremain mansion was aglow with light, 
and carriage after carriage rolled rapidly up, 
depositing the wealth and fashion of the place. 
Up and down the rooms, brilliant, detached 
bits of conversation flashed, till the entrance of 
our party produced a sudden lull. Not many 
steps had they taken down the long drawing- 
room, before it became evident they were cre- 
ating that indeflnable thing — in society called 
“a sensation.” It was not an unusual thing 
to Edna, for even in Chicago, where youth 
and beauty are by no means rare, the daughter 
of Erasmus Byford, the millionaire, was quite 
likely to receive especial notice. And she 
walked beside her tall, stately escort, with an 
air of easy nonchalance. 

But not a whit more self-possessed appeared 
she than Susie, who seldom attended fashion- 
able parties. And something in the girl’s calm, 
sweet face attracted the attention of two 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 87 

gentlemen, standing a little apart from the 
crowd. 

“ There is a face,” said Mr. Moss, “ that will 
be as handsome at forty as it is to-night.” 

“What makes you think so?” said Will 
Ellerton, looking, with well-bred curiosity, at 
Susie. 

“Because,” responded Mr. Moss, decisively, 
“if I am not mistaken, her face reflects the 
beauty of her soul.” 

Will Ellerton arched his eyebrows, and 
puckered his mouth into the form of a whistle. 
As for him, he never looked beneath the sur- 
face. If the face was fair, the figure good, 
the dress immaculate, what cared he for the 
soul ? And so he answered, lightly, 

“Upon my word, you surprise me. Moss! I 
didn’t think you was given to moralizing. 
Now, I prefer the other one. BTie^s style, every 
inch of her.” And then he furtively raised his 
opera-glass, to get a better view. 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tremain flitted among her 


guests. 


88 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

“ My dear Miss Byford,” she said, “ I have 
your name down for one or more songs during 
the evening. Now, I hope you will be good 
and obliging, and not spoil my programme.” 

Miss Edna assented, feeling very much grat- 
ified that an opportunity would be given for 
her to display her wonderful musical profi- 
ciency. 

Then Mrs. Tremain turned sweetly to Susie. 

“I have your name on my list, also. Miss 
Keith,” she said. 

“Oh, Mrs. Tremain, please — ” But Mrs. 
Tremain would not let her finish the sentence. 

‘ ‘ r really will not excuse you, my dear girl,” 
she said, in her charming, imperious way. And 
then she gracefully glided away. 

Meanwhile, from the dancing-room came 
witching strains of music ; and Edna’s feet 
fairly ached to join the dancers. 

“What possible harm can there be in danc- 
ing!” she questioned, within herself. “I 
wish Mr. Keith would ask me.” 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


89 


But not a thought had Nelson of indulging 
the little lady. For him, the question had 
long ago been settled, that the command : 
“And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do 
all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” did not 
refer to dancing. 

“Miss By ford, are you engaged for the next 
set ? ” 

Exquisite Will Ellerton said this, making 
his most approved dancing-school bow as he 
spoke. 

Edna’s face brightened visibly, as she arose 
and deftly shook out the sheeny folds of her 
dress. And young Ellerton thought himself 
happy, because he had .secured the belle of the 
evening for his partner. 

Presently there came a lull in the dancing. 
Then Nelson Keith led Miss Byford to the 
music-room. And now, those who had never 
heard Edna Byford siilg, were awed into abso- 
lute silence. Not a tremor marred the mag- 
nificent voice as,, rich, and clear, and fully 


90 


By a Way that They Kneio Not, 


rounded, it filled the spacious rooms with 
melody. 

“Her voice is simply perfect,’’ said one. 

“ If we could only secure her for our church,” 
said another. 

So the flattering comments ran on. 

And Nelson Keith’s heart throbbed as he 
stood beside her, turning her music, — not with 
pride, that he was thus standing, her acknowl* 
edged escort for the evening; but with sincere, 
tender pity for the young girl, so intoxicated 
with flattery that her blood fairly tingled with 
its subtle poison. 

Very gracefully she arose from the piano, 
and swept out her trailing robes. And Will 
Ellerton would have given a month’s salary 
for one such bright, bewildering glance as she 
flashed up into the grave face of Nelson Keith. 

A little later, Mrs. Tremain came over to 
where Susie was standing, talking earnestly 
to Mr. Moss — who had sought, and received, 
an introduction. 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


91 


“ I am sorry,” she said archly, ‘ ‘ to interrupt 
so interesting a conversation. But really, Mr. 
Moss, I have a prior claim upon Miss Keith. 
By the way, perhaps she will permit you to 
attend her to the music-room.” 

‘‘I shall be most happy,” Mr. Moss answered, 
promptly. 

And presently they crossed the room to- 
gether. 

“What shall I sing?” Susie asked her- 
self this question. And some wonderful teleg- 
raphy flashed across her mind an answering 
thought. Then her face brightened, and she 
softly played the prelude ; then sang : — 

“ I have a Savior, He’s pleading in glory, 

A dear, loving Savior, tho’ earth-friends be few. 

And now He is watching in tenderness o’er me, — 

And Oh ! that my Savior were your Savior too ! ” 

It would be impossible to describe the ex- 
ceeding, persuasive tenderness the clear, soft 
voice gave to the closing line. And if Susie 
had really intended to create a sensation, cer- 


92 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

tainly she could not have chosen a better 
theme. 

‘^The idea of singing psalms at a fashion- 
able party,” said Miss Edna, almost spitefully, 
to Will Eller ton, who sat beside her, toying 
idly with her fan. 

“ It is something new, that’s a fact,” an- 
swered Will. “But, for all that, she made a 
success of it.” 

Edna shrugged her shapely shoulders. 

“ Do you think so \ ” she said, coldly. And, 
though it seems almost incredible, there was a 
ring of envy in her voice. 

“I’m not much of a psalm-singer myself,” 
answered Mr. Ellerton, twitching nervously at 
the fan he held, “but mother used to sing 
that very piece, and, some way, I can never 
hear it without seeing her, just as she used to 
look.” 

Ah ! the blessed memory of a lovely, Chris- 
tian mother. What a safeguard it is to a way- 
ward boy. How it shields him from temptation. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


93 


and draws Mm back from the very brink of 
rnin. 

As for Mr. Moss, his earnest, manly face was 
radiant as Susie arose, amid the hush of hearts, 
and took his arm. 

“ Miss Keith,” he said, “ I thank you ; you 
have helped me. If I had the courage, I would 
sing : ^ Let the lower lights be burning.’ ” 





EANTIME, Dr. Gordon, in dressing- 
gown and slippers, paced his study, 
fighting a fierce battle with himself. 
Over, and over again, he called himself a 
senseless idiot, for having the battle to fight 
at all ; for, truth to tell, his better judgment 
was against him in the conflict. But then, 
older men, and perhaps wiser, have thrown 
discretion and judgment to the winds, when 
a pretty face weighed in the balance. 

Now, up to this time. Dr. Gordon had 
supposed himself to be quite invulnerable to 
the witching wiles of women. He had success- 
fully run the gauntlet of idolizing femininity, 
and perhaps he had forgotten the injunction: 
‘^Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed 
lest he fall.” Be this as it may, he could not 

himself comprehend how this slow, subtle, 
( 94 ) 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


95 


powerful charm had crept through his veins, 
and won him, against himself, through his 
senses. 

^‘1 must decide the matter here, and 
he said, at last. 

Then he opened his Bible ; but he closed it 
again, almost impatiently, when he read, ‘‘Be 
ye not unequally yoked together with un- 
believers.” 

In ordinary states of mind. Dr. Gordon would 
have sought the Lord, and abided by His decis- 
ion, — indeed he had done so, time and again, 
in this matter, for this was not his first hour of 
reasoning about the subject in question. But 
ever between him and his God there came a 
tantalizing vision of a lifeless form held close 
to his heart, while a wealth of golden hair 
almost entangled him in its silken meshes. 
Ah me ! the day of the boat-ride had been an 
unlucky day to Dr. Gordon, bringing about 
him perplexities of which he had not dreamed. 
And yet, be it understood, in all the ensuing 


96 


By a W^ay that They Knew Kot. 


controversy his 'better nature never wavered. 
In his inmost heart, he knew that Edna Byford 
touched only the sensual side of his character ; 
that, were he to do as he felt inclined, his 
whole after-life would be crippled, his work 
only half done. 

Being the man that he was, and living a life 
of devoted self- consecration, as he generally 
did, it seems almost incredible that he did 
not turn instantly away from this delusive 
temptation. But there are times of special 
trial for us all ; happy is the man to whom it 
need not be said, Thou art weighed in the 
balances, and art found wanting.” 

Presently, quite worn out with his annoying 
thoughts, he went over to the window and 
leaned out into the midnight stillness. It 
chanced, at that particular moment, that a 
light, silvery laugh floated from a passing 
carriage, and the summer wind bore it to his 
ear. Then he went away to his room, feeling 
strangely sad. Many a time had he entered 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 97 

that room burdened, and unutterably cast 
down. And many a time had he gone out 
from it with strength renewed, and the glory 
of the Lord illuminating his pathway; making 
crooked places straight, and rough places 
plain. But on the evening in question, his 
distracted thoughts refused to concentrate in 
prayer. And his petition for divine guidance 
was strangely mixed with worldly passions 
and desires. 

Then, was it wonderful that he failed to hear 
a voice, saying : “ This is the way, walk ye in 
it ? ” Or was it singular that his face was pale, 
and troubled, when, on the morrow, he made 
preparation for his walk, having decided that 
with Miss Byford should rest the decision of 
his fate. 

Nevertheless, his resolution faltered some- 
what when he caught a glimpse of Susie, 
flitting here and there among her flowers, 
singing softly, to herself, the precious hymn : 

“ O for a heart to praise my God.” 


7 


9S 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


She did not hear his foot-step, for she went 
on singing : 

“A heart in every thought renewed, 

And full of love divine; 

Perfect, and right, and pure, and good, 

A copy. Lord, of thine.” 

Br. Grordon could see in her sweet, peaceful 
face the reflex of the words she sang, as he 
paused involuntarily to listen, and for an 
instant his higher nature tried to assert itself. 
Then, a laughing voice said : 

“ Why, Br. Gordon, you look as solemn 
as a funeral ! Let me put this rose in your 
button-hole, to ’liven you up a little.” 

Saying which, Edna By ford came toward 
him, in the daintiest of dainty morning robes, 
and that wonderful golden hair, that had so 
ensnared him, curling in witching waves over 
her white brow. She reached up, with pretty, 
coquettish daring, to fasten the flower in place ; 
and then, — well, the hot blood of twenty-eight 
tingled through his veins, and he took the 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


99 


little upraised hand and held it in both of 
his, — and then he said words that made the 
little lady start, and exclaim : 

“Why, Dr. Gordon, I never dreamed of 
such a thing ! ” 

He drew her gently away among the shrub- 
bery then, and his earnest voice was full of 
pleading, as he told her the old, yet ever new, 
story. A rare glow spread all over her face as 
she listened, and her voice was touched with 
real., gemdne feeling, when she answered : 

‘ ‘ Oh, Dr. Gordon, I am not worthy ! You 
don’t know what you are saying.” 

Before this sentence was concluded, Dr. Gor- 
don was drawing a ring, — of priceless value to 
him, because it had been his mother’s, — from 
his pocket, and without a word he slipped it 
over her finger. And she, vain little coquette 
that she was, looked down upon the glittering 
trinket, saying within herself, “It won’t do 
any harm to wear it for awhile. It will make 
the girls so envious to see it. I mean to tease 


100 


By a Way that They Knew NoU 


him for his picture ; he’s so handsome, they’ll 
go just wild with envy.” 

But Dr. Gordon knew nothing of this mus- 
ing ; to him, the downcast eyes spoke only of 
modesty. So now, he held her hand in a close, 
warm clasp as he said, very softly, almost 
under his breath : 

“We will walk heavenward, hand in 
hand.” 

She understood him, but this was not at all 
the manner of love-making to which she was 
accustomed. But then. Dr. Gordon was a 
minister, so, of course, very different from 
the flippant young men of her set. Still, he 
mustn’t for one moment suppose that she was 
a child, to be led and dictated to. So she an- 
swered, lightly, — 

“Now, Dr. Gordon, you won’t expect me to 
be strait-laced and proper? ” 

And then Susie,— happily ignorant of this 
interesting tete-a-tete, — came quickly toward 
them, a telegram in her hand. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 101 


“A dispatch for me!” said Edna, and her 
hand trembled nervously as she opened it. 

‘ ‘ Our party will start two days sooner than 
expected ; so come without delay,” thus the 
message ran. 

“What shocking things telegraphic mes- 
sages are ! ” she said, laughing a relieved little 
laugh, as she held it up for Dr. Gordon to 
read. “Well, I must start to-morrow morn- 
ing.” 

“ To-morrow morning ! ” echoed Susie. 

“Yes, dear. By the way, that reminds me 
I have a trunk to pack, and various other 
preparations to make. So, an revoir. Dr. 
Gordon.” 

“No, come to think of it,” she added, has- 
tily, “I don’t mean that. I don’t want to see 
you in the morning. I hate good-by’s,” and 
she sighed, — a little, quickly-smothered sigh. 



CHAPTER XI. 

EVERTHELESS, Dr. Gordon had paced 
the platform in front of the depot for 
fully ten minutes, before the Keith car- 
riage drove up to it. He did not look like a 
successful wooer. Indeed, his usually beaming 
face was quite overcast, and gloomy. 

Oh dear ! ” sighed Edna, to herself, ‘‘ what 
does make him look so doleful \ Who would 
have supposed he’d care for me, anyway ? ” 
Then she held up her linger, on which their 
engagement ring glistened, and said, in her 
pretty, imperious way : 

“Now, Dr. Gordon, this is against orders ; I 
told you that I didn’t want to see you this 
morning.” Then, almost impatiently, ‘‘And 
here I’ve made all manner of excuses for delay, 

so there would be no time for farewells ! ” 

( 102 ) 



By a Way that They Knew Not. 


103 


Just then the train gave a premonitory 
shriek, and Nelson hurried away to the ticket 
otRce, while Dr. Gordon hastily grasped 
various satchels and parcels, with one hand, 
while the other did duty in assisting the 
ladies. And if Edna wished to avoid all sen- 
timentalism, certainly she had succeeded^ for 
he had barely time to find a desirable seat, and 
arrange everything to the little lady’s liking, 
before the train gave its last warning puff. 

“Let me know if you arrive safely,” he 
said, hurriedly shaking her hand. 

Then the train began to move, and was in 
quick motion before he sprang from the steps. 

“Plenty of room in the carriage, Dr. Gor- 
don,” said Nelson, heartily. 

And then they drove away, in the summer 
sunshine. 

“We must make Miss Byford a special sub- 
ject of prayer. Doctor,” Nelson said, with 
great earnestness. 

And Dr. Gordon started, almost guiltily, at 


104 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


the words. Was it his promised wife that 
Nelson Keith refered to % 

Yery heavy was his heart, and he sighed, — a 
little, inward sigh, — as he thought of her, in her 
elegant home, surrounded by all the tempta- 
tions of fashionable life. And he admitted to 
himself, that his exquisite betrothed very much 
needed the environment of specific prayer. 
But he could say nothing of this to Mr. Keith. 
So he spoke of the influence of prayer in gen- 
eral ; and told of manifold instances he had 
known, where Grod had blessed such special 
pleading. Alone in his room, however, he sank 
upon his knees, and poured out his over-bur- 
dened soul, before his never-failing Helper. 

Meantime, Edna sped on her way ; her 
thoughts in a tumult of conflicting emotions. 
But, perhaps, the predominating feeling was 
surprise. Often, in the course of her young 
life, she had thought, — as what girl of seven- 
teen has not, — of the time when an engage- 
ment ring would glisten on her finger. And 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


105 


yet, now it was really there, she could hardly 
realize how it had all come to pass. She 
frowned as she turned it round, and looked at 
it critically. Then she laughed, — a wicked little 
laugh, — as she said, 

“ Well, whose fault is it?” 

Nevertheless, she was not insensible to the 
trust it implied. The atmosphere of her visit 
lingered about her, and words spoken during 
that time still thrilled her through and through, 
with their solemn meaning. She would not 
have been willing to admit this, professed 
skeptic that she was; yet Dr. Gordon’s words, 
‘^We will go heavenward, hand in hand,” 
made her heart throb strangely. Was she^ 
indeed, journeying toward that heavenly city? 
^^Ah, no!” the question answered itself. 
Bhe did not believe in immortality at all. 
This she told herself. And yet, an intruding 
thought suggested, What if all this religious 
cant is true? What if there is a Heaven, — 
yes, and a hell ? What then ? ” 


106 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


This last, as the train steamed into the 
Chicago depot. Then, a young man, who for 
the last half-hour had been tapping his immac- 
ulate boots with a tiny cane, pressed his way 
eagerly through the crowd to meet her. 

‘‘Glad to see you. Sis ! ” he said, “ Hanged 
if I ain’t ! ” 

“Well, I’m glad to get home,” she replied, 
gathering up her parcels and handing them 
to him. 

“One, two, three,” he said, counting them 
as he took them. “Odd numbers are always 
lucky. Well, come on. Jack and the carriage 
are round the corner.” 

“Polks all well?” questioned Edna, when 
comfortably seated. 

“Old man’s a little shaky,” he responded. 
“Guess it’s nothing serious, though. Tell you 
what. Sis, the house has been as dull as a 
funeral since you’ve been gone. Girls all afraid 
to come near, for fear your humble servant 
would think they were running after him, I 
suppose.” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


107 


“Charlie B^^ford ! How you do run on,” 
said Edna, at this point. And such slang ! ” 

Charlie laughed good-naturedly. 

“ What do you think of the camping par- 
ty?” he went on. “Didn’t much think you’d 
come.” 

“I was quite ready, or I should not,” she 
replied, nonchalantly. 

“ Pious sort of people — the Keiths ? ” he said, 
flippantly. “Don’t wonder you got enough of 
it. Bet your sweet life, I tight clear of the 
canting hypocrites.” 

Now, you know what class of people Charlie 
Byford belonged to. Many there are in the 
world like him, — persons who can not repeat 
one. out of the ten commandments correctly ; 
who yet assume to know, all there is to learn, 
both of law, and doctrine. Now, Edna had 
listened to this kind of talk from her infancy. 
But she could not pass two months in the 
society of cultivated, earnest Christians, like 
the Keiths, and not recognize the manifest 


108 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

difference between people of their stamp and 
her foppish brother. And her lip curled dis- 
dainfully, as she said : 

“I dont think you would feel at home with 
them.” 

“ I tell you, Sis,” he went on, not seeming to 
notice the latent sarcasm, “I’ve made up our 
party from the cream of our set.” 

Edna arched her eyebrows. 

“ Who is the cream % ” she said, smiling. 

“Well, there’s Mabel Lester, she’s cream; 
and Ella Faircourt, she’s creamier ; and Edith 
Upton, she’s creamiest. Then there’s young 
Worthington, I knew you^d want 

“Humph ! ” was all the answer Edna deigned 
to give to this. 

“He’s the biggest catch of the season,” he 
said, eagerly. “Worth a cool half million 
this minute. You’ll be a simpleton if you let 
him slip through your fingers.” 

^‘1 do wish you would talk a little common 
sense ! ” answered Edna. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


109 


And then silence fell between them, — broken 
suddenly by Charlie, exclaiming : 

“ I’ll be hanged ! ” 

Then he twirled his incipient mustache, and 
looked in mute amazement at that significant 
ring. 

“Well, what of it?” said Edna, with pro- 
voking coolness. 

“Does the old lady know it?” 

Edna laughed. 

“ I hardly know it myself,” she said, lightly. 

“I wonder what you’ll do with young 
Worthington?” queried Charlie. 

“ If / have two strings to my bow, I won’t be 
the first girl that she answered, lightly. 

“ Wh — e — w, that’s the game, is it?” he 
retorted. “Well, I guess you can play it, 
if any one can. But if I was you, I’d look 
out for the money.” 

At this point the carriage stopped, and 
Charlie’s final word was, — 

“Well, I guess the old lady’ll have some- 


110 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


thing to say. Bhe^s dead gone on Worthing- 
ton.” 

Edna’s eyes flashed. 

^ ‘ If / am satisfied, I can’t imagine why any 
one else should complain,” she said, loftily. 

And then they went up the steps of their 
palatial home, to be greeted by their mother. 
Yery elegant, and youthful, and altogether 
charming, looked Mrs. Byford, as she stood in 
the open door- way waiting to receive her chil- 
dren. And strange indeed it seemed to think 
of her as “ the old lady.” But a very different 
mother was she from Mrs. Keith, — who wore 
her grace of motherhood like a crown. Ah 
me ! Many mothers there are, like Mrs. By- 
ford, who care well for the body that perisheth, 
forgetting utterly the never-dying soul. 

Now this mother scanned her daughter’s face 
closely. 

‘‘You are looking well, dear,” she said. 
“Not at all sun-burned, as I feared you would 
be after two months’ rusticating. By the way, 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Ill 


I want yon to look your best this evening. I 
invited Mr. Worthington to take tea with us, 
so 3^ou would not be lonely the first evening of 
your return.” 

“Mr. Worthington ! ” said Edna, her cheeks 
aglow. 

Whereupon Charlie laughed, and, by sundry 
motions and grimaces, directed his mother^s 
attention to Edna’s finger. And Mrs. Byford 
burst forth, volubly : 

“ Why, Edna Byford, what silly freak ever 
induced you to wear a ring on that finger ? ” 

“Now, mamma, for pity’s sake don’t say 
any more about it ! ” Edna said, desperately. 
“ Charlie’s been teasing me about it all the 
way home,” saying which, she turned abrupt- 
ly, and went hurriedly to her own room. 

“What a fuss they all do make over it,” she 
said, pettishly, tossing her hat and satchel on 
the bed. “Mr. Worthington! The idea! 
Why, he’s good for nothing but a figure-head 
for a tailor’s window.” 



CHAPTER XII. 


^FTER a few days of active bustle, 
the camping party, composed of “the 
cream, creamier, creamiest, of our set,” 
were actually en route for Geneva Lake. A 
looker-on would have pronounced it a medley 
company. But that talismanic position^ 
united them on common ground. To a close 
student of human nature, there would have 
been infinite amusement, in studying the 
different temperaments represented among 
them. And the obsequious attention the 
young ladies of the party bestowed upon 
Mr. Worthington would have been highly 
diverting. Most of them classified him as 
so handsome, — and so he was, to those who 
admire the unintellectual, flesh-and-blood only 
style of beauty. But selfishness, and self- 
indulgence, are not sculptors who bring out 
( 113 ) 


By a Way that They Kneio JSFoL 


113 


the finer lines, and Edna’s lips cnrled utterly 
when she compared him with Nelson Keith 
and Dr. Gordon. However, it was evident 
that Charlie Byford was not the only one who 
considered him “the biggest catch of the 
season.” And, evidently, the young gentle- 
man in question fully coincided with them in 
their decision. He was the sort of person 
who, had he been poor, would have fawned 
upon the rich. So, perhaps, it was not strange 
that he estimated his friends by their dollar- 
and-cent value. Very few people there were 
he esteemed his equals; and, moreover, he was 
remarkably careful that his friends should rec- 
ognize this important fact, ^t has been said 
that we are valued by others as we estimate 
ourselves. Consequently, it was not wonderful 
that most people humored him in this fancy. 
His most intimate friend was Charlie Byford, 
which was strange— they were so wholly un- 
like. 

To be sure, Charlie was the only son of 
8 


114 By a TFay The]j Knew Not, 

Erasmus By ford, the millionaire ; but he was 
a light-hearted, free-and-easy young man, who 
had no idea of life except as a place in which 
to have a jolly good time. If his good times 
were oftentimes of a questionable character, 
perhaps he owed it more to his surroundings 
than himself. Money was a thing of the 
smallest importance to him, for he had never 
known what it was to be without it. All he 
cared for, was to have all the fun and frolic 
that money could buy. Yet he was by no 
means without character ; on the contrary, the 
right sort of education would have developed 
him into a splendid man. But most of people 
are ready to admit that opulence and flattery 
are not good schools for the young. There 
had been a time when Mr. Byford intended 
to make his only son one of the Arm of Byford 
& Co.; but his dislike for business was so 
manifest, and his foolish mother so fully 
sided with her idolized boy, that the project 
was abandoned. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


115 


As for the ladies of the party, Edith Upton 
was, as Charlie Byford styled it, “the cream- 
iest” of them all. Now, there was no make- 
believe aristocracy about the Uptons. They 
were cultured, traveled, wealthy. Their home 
was a model of grand magnificence ; and in 
that palatial home Miss Upton reigned su- 
preme, — its royal mistress. And right royally 
did she wield her sceptre, and happy indeed 
was the aspirant to social dignity whom this 
magic wand beckoned within the charmed 
circle ; for a card to her receptions was like 
an open passport to the mte of the city. In 
person. Miss Upton was tall, and stately, with 
great, dark eyes, that flashed scornfully on 
anything and everybody not up to her stand- 
ard of excellence. Bhe did not bow down to 
money, — in fact, she professed to feel supreme 
contempt for mere wealth. Her especial 
hobby was social rank ; and blue, indeed, 
must be the blood that she considered equal 
to her own. 


116 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

Next to, in truth almost uniform in point of 
wealth and station with, Miss Upton, stood 
Miss Faircourt. But not a straw cared she 
for closely-drawn social lines. Indeed, in her 
peculiar set, she had earned the title of 
“ queer,” for she had been known to do 
‘‘such a very odd thing” as to invite a com- 
mon music-teacher to her parties. And not 
only that, she actually had tried to force her 
upon the notice of the chosen few in their 
aristocratic circle. To be sure, this same 
teacher was one of nature’s noblewomen — 
grand and true in character ; but she lacked 
the golden badge of affluence, or, in other 
words, did not belong to one of the “first 
families.” Nevertheless, most people loved 
Ella Faircourt, for they were forced to ac- 
knowledge this very “queerness” was the 
outgrowth of a kind heart ; and it was 
generally conceded that she was a remark- 
ably nice girl, but so unlike any one else in 
their set they didn’t know one-half the time 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


117 


just how to take her. She laughed and tossed 
her pretty head when some one hinted this to 
her, and went her independent way, careless of 
criticism. 

Next in order, stood Mabel Lester. The 
boys called her a jolly girl, without any 
prudishness about her,” and, truth to tell, 
there was no mischief for which, she was not 
ready. Her family stood in constant dread of 
^‘Mabel’s next wild freak,” — all except her 
father, who was rather pleased, than not, to 
have her outrage the extreme decorum of the 

upper ten.” 

Fourth, in a dollar-and-cent ratio, came. 
Edna ; but, for some unexplained reason, she 
was a general favorite. She was so small, and 
witching, they all felt justified in petting her, 
and, as Edna was extremely fond of being 
petted, she was usually sweetness itself when 
with them. They had various pet names for 
her, “ Pussie ” being the one commonly used. 
And, come to think of it, the name was quite 


118 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


typical, for nothing can be lovelier than a dainty 
white kitten, when it is purring good-naturedly. 
But let something aggravate it, and how 
quickly the ugly claws, concealed in its soft, 
velvety paw, reveal the wild beast sleeping in 
its nature. Of course, on this particular morn- 
ing, there was a general cry of delight when 
“Pussie” Byford came among them. In- 
stantly Mr. Worthington, who had been toying 
carelessly with Mabel Lester’s fan, came 
forward to greet her. 

‘‘There now, Pussie,” cried Mabel, “I 
thought for once Mr. W orthington was going 
to notice me, but I suppose I shall have no 
chance at all now.” 

‘‘ Pussie’ s carried off the prize; no use for 
her to try.” 

It was Miss Upton who whispered this, 
nudging Miss Faircourt, by way of emphasis. 

Whereupon Miss Faircourt turned up her 
nose, contemptuously. And then. Miss Upton 
said, within herself, “ O, my young lady, you’re 
jealous ! I know the signs.” 


My a TFay They Ivneio Not. 119 

“All, Miss Byford, I began to think yon 
wasn’t coming,” said Mr. Worthington, with 
his most finished drav/l. 

Edna gave her shoulders a little shrug, and 
her lips had the least imperceptible curl as the 
young exquisite spoke. 

“Here’s a seat, Pussie,” said Mabel, and 
Edna sank gracefully into it, while Mr. Worth- 
ington remained standing before them. At 
this point Mabel’s eyes rested upon that tell- 
tale ring. 

“ Why Pussie,” she said, in a loud whisper, 
looking up roguishly at Mr. Worthington, “I’d 
no idea it had gone so far ! ” 

Edna colored a little. 

“What a goose you are, Mabel,” she said, 
almost impatiently. 

Mr. Worthington bit his mustache, and cast 
a revengeful look at the inoffensive trinket. 

“I wonder who the deuce it is, anyway ? ” he 
soliloquized. “ I don’t care a copper who it is, 
I’ll, — ” but the sentence was not finished, for 


120 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

juat then the train gave its last premonitory 
snort, and it was Miss Byford’s elegant little 
satchel — with its initials of solid gold — that he 
grasped. 

Evidently he intended, for that trip, at least, 
to make the dainty little lady his especial care. 
And every inch a lady looked she in her tailor- 
made costume of biscuit- brown, relieved at the 
throat and wrists by snowy bands of linen. 
Hat, and gloves, and every traveling accom- 
paniment, were in elegant, perfect keeping, 
and completely suited the sesthetic taste of Mr. 
Worthington. 

Meantime, Charlie Byford stood for an in- 
stant quite irresolute, as it seemed to be tac- 
itly understood that the young lady selected 
then and there would be that gentleman’s 
peculiar care through the remainder of the 
trip. Now Charlie’s inclination pointed de- 
cidedly toward Mabel Lester. “She was so 
jolly, and not at all spooney.” But over and 
over again, in family council, he had been 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


121 


cautioned to secure Miss Upton, not only 
as a partner for this trip, but for life. So, 
much against his wishes, he cumbered himself 
with her belongings, and seated himself beside 
her in the car. 

Now, it so happened that this was quite in 
accord with the young lady’s wishes, for she 
had discovered that, with all his nonsense, 
he had more real manliness than most of the 
gentlemen in her set. 

But how quickly time flies. While I have 
been introducing you to the party, the train 
has sped on its way, and, as I said before, 
they are actually en route for their camping- 
ground. 




CHAPTER XIII. 

EANTIME, Susie was trying, with all 
the force of character she possessed, 
added to her womanly pride, to meet 
the inevitable. Ah me ! It seems sad some- 
times to see the rosy hue of morning overcast 
and gloomy. And yet, down through the in- 
tervening ages, rings the promise that “at 
evening time it shall be light.” Oh, manifold 
and precious are the promises given to the 
sorrowful ! And ever new is the cheering 
message: “The Eternal God is thy refuge, 
and underneath are the everlasting arms. ” 
Now, to no human ear could Susie tell her 
story; so, straight to this never-failing refuge, 
this pitying confidant, this tender friend, she 

went, and wept out her humiliating confession. 

( 122 ) 



By a 'Way that They Knew Not, 


123 


And did He comfort her ? 

Did you ever seek Him when your heart 
was exceeding sorrowful,” — when the very 
foundation seemed torn up beneath your feet % 
And did you never feel the “Peace, be still,” 
settle down into your storm-tossed heart? If 
you have, I need not tell you, that then, and 
there, Susie verified the Psalmist’s words, — 
“ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the 
Lord pitieth them that fear him.” 

But, for all that, life stretched out before her 
like an arid, sandy desert. For, alas ! weak, 
human nature shrinks back appalled before 
the cross, and fain would grasp the crown of 
glory, without the crown of thorns. 

“If I live to be forty,” she thought, sadly, 
sitting down by the open window, — “what a 
long, long time it will be.” Tiien a bright, 
rich glow suffused her face, as she remembered 
how, in all her thoughts of the misty future. 
Dr. Gordon had held a place. 

“How can I ever listen to his preaching 


124 By a Way that They Knew Not. , 

again?” she said, desperately. ‘‘And he was 
beginning to help me so !” and then the glow 
on her cheeks deepened into crimson, as con 
science whispered that the prize toward which 
she had been pressing was the approbation of 
her idolized pastor. Ah ! now you begin to 
think her a sentimental, lackadaisical simple- 
ton ; and Mm a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 
But you are mistaken ; he was nothing of the 
sort. Not one single word had he ever spoken 
to Susie Keith, that he would not have been 
willing to have proclaimed from the house-top. 
To be sure, he had been much interested in her 
spiritual development, and perhaps he had 
discerned more of the deep resources of her 
nature, than she herself understood. And 
seeing this, he had sincerely tried to elevate 
her to his high standard of Christian excel- 
lence ; and he did not in the least realize, that 
into his manner had crept an exceeding tender- 
ness. If he had, he would have been startled, 
and perhaps saved from doing what afterward 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


125 


he would have given a great deal to undo, — for 
he was not, by any means, as happy as he 
might have been supposed to be. There could 
be nothing in common between him and his 
affianced bride, he was forced to admit ; and 
his heart was heavy with dim forebodings. 

Her first letter had been anything but satis- 
factory ; truth to tell, she found it laborious 
work to write it. For, after she had exhaust- 
ed the common-place news, what responsive 
thought had she for the exalted aspirations 
that were a part of his very being? When 
with her, her witching ways bewildered his 
senses, and made him forget any want of 
depth in her conversation. But, as he read 
her letter, there were no glorious eyes to hold 
him spell-bound; no dimpling, saucy smile to 
defy his reason. It was Saturday afternoon, 
and he sat in his pleasant study, sermon in 
hand, when it reached him. Of course, he 
dropped the manuscript, and forthwith de- 
voured its contents ; then, he held it in his 


126 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


hand, and there floated dreamily before him the 
vision of a pure, sweet, thoughtful face. Quite 
unlike the face of his betrothed it was, and he 
laid the letter down with a little, troubled sigh, 
and gave close attention to his sermon. Twice 
before had he intended to preach that very ser- 
mon ; and twice before had something in his 
own heart forbidden its utterance. Many and 
varied were the interlinings and alterations it 
had received ; all to no purpose, for altogether 
too honest a man was Dr. Gfordon to preach 
anything to his people that he could, not ex- 
emplify in his own heart and life. So now he 
slowly read the grand, impressive text : “ But 
none of these things move me, neither count I 
my life dear unto myself, so that I might 
flnish my course with joy, and the ministry 
which I have received of the Lord Jesus to 
testify the gospel of the grace of God.’’ Could 
he sincerely say that “none of these things 
moved him,'^^ when at that moment his thoughts 
were distracted by carnal passions and desires ? 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


127 


Nay, verily he could not honestly preach that 
sermon on the coming Sabbath. U there was 
a verse in the Bible expressive of deep Immility, 
surely that was the text for him, he thought, 
as he folded the much-abused manuscript, with 
a sigh. Then, feeling strangely humbled, and 
utterly helpless, he sank on his knees beside 
his study-chair. And kneeling there he prayed 
earnestl}^ and simply for the help he needed, 
and entered anew into solemn covenant with 
his Savior to so watch his life, and heart, that 
his work might be blessed to the church, and 
to his own soul. And presently the help,- — to 
none who ask, denied, — came, and he arose 
from his knees refreshed and strengthened. 

As for Susie, she brushed from her eyes a 
few tears of mingled mortilication and disap- 
pointment ; then she said to herself, Susie 
Keith, what are you thinking of ? lam posi- 
tively ashamed of you!” Then, more from 
force of habit, than premeditation, she opened 
her Bible, and her eyes rested on the words : 


128, By a Way that They Knew Not, 

“There hath no temptation taken you but 
such as is common to man ; but God is faith- 
ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
above that you are able ; but will, with the 
temptation, also make a way of escape, that ye 
may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly 
beloved, flee from idolatry.” 

She closed the book reverently. Then, after 
a long pause, she sang softly,— 

“ The dearest idol I have known, 

Whate’er that idol he, 

Help me to tear it from Thy throne, 

And worship only Thee.” 

And now, you are prepared to hear that the 
following Sabbath found Susie, with serene 
face, in her accustomed place. Nor will you 
be surprised to learn that Dr. Gordon came 
that morning from his closet to his pulpit, 
leaning on the Strong Arm. In a clear tone 
he announced his text : * ‘ Wherefore let him 

that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he 
fall.” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


129 


“Did you ever watch a little child,” he said, 
“when it first tries to walk? Weak and 
trembling are the little limbs, and carefully 
the loving father upholds it, as it clings trust- 
ingly to his hand. Tenderly he steadies the 
little one upon its uhtried feet, and then, rely- 
ing utterly upon its father's strength, it takes 
the first timid, tottering step. Time and again 
the little toddler falls, and time and again 
the patient father raises it, stands it upon its 
tiny feet, and gently urges it on, by holding 
before it some much-coveted thing, — perhaps 
his watch, — and the little hand is stretched out, 
pleadingly, to grasp the promised reward; and, 
after repeated trials, and many tumbles, it at 
last holds it triumphantly in its hand.” 

Quick as thought, Susie caught the meaning 
of the illustration. Wasn’t she a helpless 
baby in Christ, stumbling and falling at every 
step? And didn’t her kind, patient Father 
uphold her, in her weakness, lifting her when 

she fell, with his strong, everlasting arms of 
9 


130 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


love % And then she came back from her rev- 
erie, to hear Dr. Giordon say : 

‘‘ Dear friends, the prize your Father offers 
you is eternai life.” 

Ah ! Added to all this watchful care and 
loving-kindness, there was a promise of reward. 
How wonderful ! But how could she obtain it % 
Very eloquent and earnest were the speaker’s 
words, as he went on with his sermon. And 
presently Susie’s ear caught this sentence: 

‘‘ ‘Without me ye can do nothing,’ are the 
warning words of your Lord and Master.” 

And instantly her thoughts supplemented to 
these' words, “But I can do all things through 
Christ., which strengtheneth me.” So the 
sainted apostle said, and surely he must have 
known, for, though “troubled on every side, 
perplexed, persecuted, cast down,” still at the 
end of his pilgrimage he could say: “I have 
fought a good fight, I have kept the faith. 
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 


By a ^ay that They Knew Kot. 


131 


judge, shall give me at that day.” And Paul 
had gained the prize — not by any marvelous 
human strength. He had pressed on, fighting 
the sin which so easily beset him ; glorying in 
his infirmities, that the power of Christ might 
rest upon him ; not reckoning the sufferings of 
the present time worthy to be compared with 
the glory which should be revealed in him. 
Just here, Susie’s heart gave a bound' of 
exultant joy, as she remembered that this same 
Christ was her Savior too. And, after all. 
Saint Paul had attained no sublime height to 
which she could not aspire, through Christ. 
And then, into her musing, came the notes of 
that grand old hymn : 

‘ * Soldiers of Christ, arise, 

And put your armor on, 

Strong in the grace which God supplies 
Through His eternal Son; 

Strong in the Lord of Hosts, 

And in His mighty power, 

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts 
Is more than conqueror.” 




PHIS same Sabbath morning found our 
camping party fully settled at Geneva 
Lake. And restful, indeed, seemed 
their leafy retreat, with its perfect beauty of 
lake and grove, where the birds caroled their 
songs of praise, and every passing wind wafted 
the sweet perfume of a thousand flowers. All 
about them rested the Sabbath stillness, and 
into the peaceful silence, came the clear notes of 
the Sabbath bell. “Come, — come, — come, — ” 
it repeated, over and over ; but, quite unmind- 
ful of its invitation, three young ladies of the 
party lolled on their cots, — reading sensational 
novels, — while Edna lounged on a camp-chair, 
her writing-desk in her lap. 

“I most wish we’d gone to church,” said 

Miss Faircourt, rising on one elbow to listen. 

( 132 ) 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


133 


“I didn’t come prepared for anything civil- 
ized,” Mabel Lester replied, lazily. 

‘‘Been kind of nice to have shown the 
country people some style,” said Edna. “Wish 
we’d thought of it sooner.” 

Whereupon all these silly young ladies 
laughed. 

“What a fashion- worshiper you are, Pus- 
sie,” said Miss Upton, somewhat scornfully. 

“Might as well be out of the world, as out 
of fashion,” laughed Edna, good-naturedly. 

Mabel Lester yawned. 

“I know it’s awfully wicked,” she said, 
“ but I sometimes wish there wasn’t such a 
day in the week as Sunday.” 

“Why, Mabel Lester!” said Miss Upton, 
and her look expressed extreme surprise. 

‘'Well, I don’t care,” Mabel went on, reck- 
lessly, “it’s just too aggravating to think of 
those splendid blackberries going to waste, 
and here we are, afraid to^ go and pick them. 
And it will be sure to rain to-morrow.” 


134 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

“0 you wicked creature!” said Edna, 
laughing, “ I don’t believe you’ve got any con- 
science.” 

‘‘No, not a bit, and I don’t believe any of 
you care one cent for the day itself,, but you 
are afraid of what people will say. N ow, Edith, 
you needn’t arch your eyebrows, and look so 
horrified. Do you really care any more for 
Sunday than you do for Monday?” 

“I care for common decency,” said Miss 
Upton, loftily. “7’m not a heathen ! ” 

“I rather think a missionary might find a 
good field for labor in your immediate vicinity, 
though,” Mabel retorted. “For my part, I 
don’ t think it is any worse to go blackberrying 
on Sunday than it is to rpad novels. If I 
remember right, it says, somewhere in the 
Bible, that we are not even to think our own 
thoughts on the Sabbath day.” 

Miss Upton deigned no reply to this, and 
silence reigned in the tent. And the pure 
beauty of the Sabbath morning lingered all 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


135 


about them, without awakening one recogniz- 
ing thought of the Father’s love and care. 

After this interruption, the girls went back 
to their reading. Miss Upton had not once 
thought to bring her Bible, but she had re- 
membered to put a pleasing novel in her trunk. 
So now she turned her attention to ‘‘The Bride 
of an Evening,” and her eyes grew misty with 
tears over the trials of the imaginary hero ; 
but not one thought had she for “The chief- 
est among ten thousand ; the One altogether 
lovely,” — the grand hero of Calvary and the 
Cross. In imagination she could go with the 
hero of her romance to his prison cell, and 
fancy him innocently suffering for the guilty, 
with heroic calmness and fortitude. But she 
would have yawned over, and pronounced 
extremely dull, the sublimely pathetic story 
of the Kingly One, — “ Who did no sin, neither 
was guile found in' his mouth : But he was 
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised 
for our iniquities ; and with his stripes are we 
healed.” 


136 By a Way that They Knew Kot, 

Did Miss Upton believe her Bible % Why, 
she would have been extremely shocked if 
you had asked her the question. And yet, 
how could she believe it, and not venerate the 
grandeur of the self-sacrifice portrayed in its 
wonderful pages % 

Meantime, Edna was holding a little conver- 
sation with herself. “I just believe I’ll do 
it ! ” she said. ‘‘ It will be such fun to see the 
girls stare. They think Elmer Worthington 
handsome ! Pooh, the perfumed wax doll. I 
wonder what they’ll say when they see a real^ 
genuine manP 

After this she scribbled rapidly, and when 
her letter was finished, it contained an urgent 
invitation for Dr. Gordon to visit their camp. 
Now, it so happened that he had not taken his 
usual summer vacation, and he found it quite- 
easy to persuade himself that he needed rest. 
So it came to pass, a few days later, that Edna 
dressed herself with unusual care. Where- 
upon Mabel exclaimed : 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 137 


Why PuBsie By ford, what are you rigging 
up so for?’’ 

Edna laughed. 

^‘I’m going up to town,” she said, gayly, 
“to show the benighted grangers what real 
city style is.” 

“Going to town! What for?” said Miss 
Faircourt, opening her eyes wide with aston- 
ishment. 

“In search of my fortune,” returned Edna. 
“Maybe I’ll find it, and bring it home with 
me. Who knows? Well, I’m off.” 

And she went her way, leaving behind her a 
curious trio of girls. 

“Is she going alone f'’"' questioned Miss Up- 
ton, in great surprise. 

“What of it?” said Mabel, lightly. She 
always took the side opposite to Miss Upton, 
in any controversy. “I’m not sure^ but I 
thinTc Pussie Byford is capable of taking care 
of herself.” 

“Humph ! ” Miss Upton said, settling back, 
and turning her attention to her book. 


138 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


As for Edna, she was supremely indifferent 
to their comments, as she walked through the 
sunlit- woods, singing little snatches of song, by 
way of company. At the door of the depot 
she hesitated for an instant, seized by a sudden, 
bashful dismay. But she quickly banished it, 
by saying : ‘ ‘ Who cares ? There wasn’ t any- 
one else to come.” And in two minutes more, 
she was shaking hands with Dr. Gordon. 

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t come,” she 
said, cordially. 

But what she had wanted him to come /or, 
was certainly a mystery. Surely not because 
she thought he would find congenial company 
in their party. 

“You didn’t think I could resist such an 
urgent invitation?” he asked, with a bright 
smile. 

‘‘ I’m afraid you’ll be sorry,” she said, in a 
doubtful tone ; ‘ ‘ we’re an awful wild set.” 

He looked at her, — a look half serious, half 
amused. 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


139 


“What is your definition of the word 
‘ wild ’ he asked, quietly. 

“Why, you see,” she explained, “we be- 
lieve in having a good time ; and — well — really, 
I don’t think we care for much else.” 

Dr. (rordon winced a little. Strange words 
these, from his chosen helpmeet. Nevertheless, 
he said, pleasantly, — 

“What is your idea of a good time? I am 
quite curious to know.” 

Edna regarded him in wondering silence for 
a moment, before she answered,— 

“Of course, you won’t agree with me, if I 
tell you.” 

“Why not?” he asked, gently. 

“Oh, you don’t think anything is nice, but 
pi;eaching and praying,” she replied, flush- 
ing and laughing. 

“Ah ! ” he said, wishing, yet hardly daring, 
to contradict this assertion. 

“The indecision apparent in his manner 
roused all the latent mischief in her nature, 
and she sang, lightly, — 


140 By a TFay that They Knew Kot. 

“‘/like music, and dancing, and a chat 
with the beaux.’ ” 

“And does that satisfy you?” he asked 
earnestly. 

She flashed up at him a bright, bewildering 
glance, before she answered, — 

“ To-day^ I am perfectly content.” 

And then they came within sight of the 
camp. 

“Who under the sun is that with Pussie 
Byford?” said Mabel, looking up as they 
approached. 

“He looks, for all the world, like a min- 
ister ! ” exclaimed Miss Faircourt. 

‘ ‘ A minister ! ” echoed Miss Upton. “ What 
an^/ea.^” 

And before they had recovered from their 
astonishment, Edna was introducing them to 
Dr. Grordon. 

Of course, his presence in the neighborhood 
soon became noised abroad. And, in due 
course of time, the officers of various churches 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


141 


in the town went in a body to see him, — 
having previously decided that a union-meet- 
ing in the grove would, of all things, be the 
most desirable. 

So it came to pass, on the following Sabbath, 
that, ^‘ as the mountain would not go to Mo- 
hammed, Mohammed went to the mountain,” 
and our party found themselves, with other 
worshipers, in the leafy temple. Gloriously 
beautiful shone the summer sun, and gayly 
each feathered songster chirped its matin song 
of praise. In perfect keeping seemed the sun- 
light, and the birds, with the honest, browned 
faces of the sturdy farmers. But elegantly 
out of place, — as some bright-plumaged, trop- 
ical bird, among the staid old trees, — appeared 
our beruffled, befrizzled party; and all of the 
early part of that glorious Sabbath morning 
had been frittered away in deciding what to 
wear. 

‘‘ Really, girls,” Edna had said, standing 
with her head inclined to one side, trying to 


142 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


decide between the merits of a creamy nun’s- 
veiling, trimmed with yards upon yards of 
costly lace, and a summer silk, of exquisite 
make and finish. I think it is a positive 
duty for us to give these country people some 
fashionable enlightenment. Why, the last time 
I was in town I actually saw one of them in a 
sun bonnet.” 

She did not further say that this rustic 
head-gear crowned a head of silvery hair. And 
hair and bonnet framed a face placid and 
sweet as an angel’ s. 

I shall wear my traveling dress,” Ella 
Faircourt said, decidedly. don’t think a 
meeting in the woods calls for anything more 
dressy.” 

‘^But white is always suitable,” Edna 
replied, refolding the silk. 

As for Miss Upton, she said nothing, but 
went on calmly arraying herself in a black 
silk, suited perfectly for Dr. Lock’s fashiona- 
ble church,, but decidedly inappropriate for a 
rural temple of trees. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


143 


As a consequence of all this fussing and 
fixing, the last echo of the last bell had died 
away, before they were ready ; and Dr. Gor- 
don had risen to announce his text, before 
they pressed their way through the crowd to a 
seat. 




CHAPTER Xy. 

HE speaker’s stand was beneath the 

wide-spreading branches of a stately 

tree, its green leaves forming an arch 

of ideal beauty. From this vantage-ground, 

Dr. Gordon looked down upon the sea of 

eager, expectant faces. And standing thus, 

✓ 

without desk, or book, or manuscript, he was 
the most commanding, oratorical figure that 
could be conceived. A sympathetic murmur 
of welcome ran through the promiscuous 
assembly when he rose ; then absolute silence 
settled over them, as he said, — 

“‘Watch, therefore, for ye know neither 
the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man 
cometh.’ ” 



( 144 ) 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


145 


And perhaps it was not intentional, but his 
eyes met Edna’s as he spoke. I will not at- 
tempt to tell you what he said further. The 
words of his text sufficed to carry Edna back 
to the day of the boat-ride. 

Then, for the first and only time, she had 
been face to face with Death. She had felt his 
terrible, remorseless grasp, and been afraid, oh 
so afraid., of his awful presence. And here 
Dr. Gordon was, warning them that at any 
hour, yea, at any moment, the death-angel 
might come. 

Not for her? Why, it couldn’t be possible 
he would come for her , — so young, so full of 
life ! Surely he would think her quite unfit 
for the grave’ s cold solitude ! 

And yet, there was Marion Endicot, only 
eighteen, and the cards out for her debut 
party, when the grim messenger beckoned her 
away. And loving friends had been powerless 
to wrest her from his hold. 

At this point, Dr. Gordon’s voice arrested 
10 


146 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

her attention. Finely modulated, and full of 
pathos it was, as he repeated Mrs. Heman’s 
beautiful poem, — ^ 

“Leaves have their time to fall, 

And flowers to wither at the north- wind’s breath, 

And stars to set, — but all, 

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death! 

“We know when moons shall wane. 

When summer-birds from far shall cross the sea. 

When antumn’s hue shall tinge the golden grain, — 

But who shall teach us when to look for thee? 

“ Youth and the opening rose 

May look like things too glorious for decay. 

And smile at thee, — but thou art not of those 
That wait the ripened bloom, to seize their prey.” 

The spell of the pathetic poem was all 
around them, when he added, — 

“ ‘Watch, therefore : for ye know not what 
hour your Lord doth come.’ ” 

And then, after a short, fervent prayer, he 
said, — 

“ Will the congregation join in singing 
‘Almost persuaded,’” and his splendid voice 


By a TFay They Knew Not. 


147 


led the great multitude in singing the tender, 
touching words, — 

“ Almost persuaded, 

Come, come to-day; 

Almost persuaded, 

Turn not away.” 

On and on, through the clear, summer air, 
rolled the entreating strain, — 

“ Almost is but to fail ! 

Sad, sad, that bitter wail — 

Almost — hut lost ! ” 

It would be impossible to describe the effect 
of that solemn sermon, with its supplement of 
sacred song. I think it would have been a 
relief to some of our party to have cried out- 
right. As it was, Mabel Lester furtively wiped 
the tears from her eyes. 

^‘What a sermon!” said some one behind 
them. 

“I can’t understand how anyone can halt be- 
tween two opinions, after listening to such words 
as those,” answered his nearest neighbor. 


148 


By a Way that They Knexo Not. 


“Dr. Gordon has sown the seed, but Ood 
must give the increase,” said a lady’s clear, 
emphatic voice. 

“ I feel like going up and down through the 
audience, saying: ‘Behold, no'w is the ac- 
cepted time: now is the day of salvation,”’ 
said still another, speaking earnestly. 

The last speaker was a rusty-looking farmer, 
with hands browned by the sun, and lined, 
and interlined, with indelible marks of toil ; 
his hair was not cut after the latest approved 
fashion, and certainly his coat was out of date ; 
but his face, to a judge of character, belonged 
to one of nature’s noblemen. 

Miss Upton vouchsafed the common coat one 
scornful glance, then she actually drew her 
rich dress closer around her, as if she feared 
its contaminating touch. 

“Do let us get out of this crowd,” she said 
abruptly. 

It was a subdued and quiet party that gath- 
ered together in the evening twilight. For a 


By a Way that They Knew Not. l'49 

time they watched the soft light of sunset 
mingle with the grave tints of even-tide in si- 
lence, broken only by the plaintive cries of the 
whip-poor-wills, or the “ To-whit ! to-whoo ! ” 
of some distant owl. 

“I declare, Sis,” Charlie By ford said, rue- 
fully, “that parson of yours has given me the 
blues.” 

Mr. Worthington scowled. 

“Nothing could tempt me to listen to 
another such sermon,” he said, testily. “ Ugh ! 
I feel as if I had been to my own funeral.” 

“Be ye also ready,” quoted Edna, half in 
jest, half in earnest. 

“ My dear Miss By ford,” he protested, 
“spare me ! ” 

“ The idea of trying to frighten people into 
religion ! ” Miss Upton said, indignantly. 
“For my part, I don’t scare easily.” 

“No, neither do I. Not if I know myself,” 
said Mr. Driscol, sharply. 

“But, shouldn’t you be afraid to die?” 


150 By a Way that They Kneio Kot. 

It was Mabel who asked this startling ques- 
tion. 

“To die repeated Miss Upton, astonished 
out of her usual self complacency. 

“I suppose we’ve all got to die sometime^^^ 
Mabel said, at length. 

“How perfectly doleful we are getting,’^ 
said Edna. 

“Everything will seem different to-morrow — 
by daylight,” said Miss Upton, with cheerful 
re-assurance. 

“ I should hope so ! ” cried Mabel. 

“Why don’t you boys say something cheer- 
ful?” asked Edna, irritably. 

“What do you all say to a hop at the Lake 
House to-morrow evening?” said Mr. Worth- 
ington. 

“I second that motion,” answered Charlie 
Byford. 

“Almost anything will be preferable to 
moping this way,” added Miss Upton. 

“By the way, we musn’t forget to invite 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


151 


Dr. Gordon,” said Mr. Sterling, looking mis- 
chievously at Edna. ‘‘We owe him a return 
compliment, you know.” 

They all laughed. 

Edna neither assented nor dissented, but she 
thought^ “The idea of inviting Dr. Gordon to a 
dancing-party.” 

“Let’s make it a full-dress affair,” she said, 
presently. “It will be such fun to see the 
country people stare.” 

“Might know Pussie would think of dr ess ^ 
first thing,” Miss Fail court said, laughing. 

“I am just dying to show them my pink 
cr^pe,” returned Edna. 

“Surely you won’t wear that!'^'^ said Miss 
Upton. 

“Indeed I shall.^^^ Edna replied, “that’s 
what I want it a full-dress affair for.” 

“Full-dress it shall be!” declared Mr. 
Worthington.” I’ll step over to the office 
and dispatch for fiowers, and any extra finery 
any of you may need to make it a swell 
party.” 


152 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

don’t need a thing,” Edna said, coolly. 
“Mamma always packs one complete even- 
ing dress in my trunk ; ‘ in case of an emer- 
gency,’ she^ays.” 

didn’t come prepared for anything but 
said Mabel, almost crossly, “so Til 
have to make out a list.” 

“I think it’s too ridiculous said Miss Fair- 
court, “ but if the rest of you do, I suppose I’ll 
have to,” and she began to scribble rapidly. 

And did Dr. Gordon’s earnest, warning 
words fall to the ground, powerless % 

Nay, verily. “For my thoughts are not 
your thoughts, neither are your ways my 
ways, saith the Lord. For as the rain cometh 
down, and the snow from heaven, and return- 
eth not thither, but watereth the earth, and 
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may 
give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater ; 
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of 
my mouth : it shall not return unto me void, 
but it shall accomplish that which I please. 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


153 


and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I 
sent it. ” 

N ow, it so happened that Dr. Gordon did not 
receive his invitation . Indeed, he knew nothing 
of the party till late in the evening. Early 
that Monday morning, a messenger came for 
Rev. Mr. Cleavland. Old Father Goodspeed 
was dying, and fain would hear the voice of 
prayer once more before he crossed the river. 
But Mr. Cleavland was writhing under the tor- 
ture of a violent sick-headache. 

“Perhaps Dr. Gordon will go,” he said, 
wearily. 

“Yes, I’m sure he will,” he added, confi- 
dently, and he hastily penciled a few lines to 
him. 

Of course Dr. Gordon was ready and willing 
to go, and thus it was that he remained in 
blissful ignorance of the prospective dancing- 
party. 

Very near the end of his earthly pilgrimage 
was Father Goodspeed. In a little time his 


154 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

dim eyes would see the Kiug, in all his beauty; 
and his ears, — almost insensible to earthly 
sound, — would hear the welcome words, “Well 
done thou good and faithful servant ; enter 
thou into the joy of thy Lord.” 

When Dr. Gordon entered the sick room, 
those about the bedside motioned him forward. 
The sick man’s eyes unclosed, and his lips 
moved, but no sound escaped them. 

“He wants you to pray,” his daughter 
whispered. 

Then Dr. Gordon dropped on his knees, and, 
with earnest, up-reaching faith, raised the 
dying man to the Father’s strong, upholding 
arms. A smile of seraphic joy illumined the 
aged face as Dr. Gordon arose, and he mur- 
mured, softly, — 

“ ‘ Though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou 
art with me.’ ” 

Then he slept again ; and the day wore on, 
and waned, and evening shadows gathered 


By a Way that They Knexo Not. 


155 


about the silent watchers before he spoke again. 
It was toward the evening’s close when he 
wakened suddenly, and looked round upon 
his family and friends. 

‘‘‘Father, into thy hands I commend my 
spirit,’ ” he said, softl}^ 

Then, overcome by the sleep that knows no 
waking, he closed bis eyes, and presently Dr. 
Gordon left the family alone with their dead. 
The silvery harvest-moon hung in mid-heavens 
when he came to the hotel, and strangely out 
of keeping with his solemn thoughts seemed 
the strains of light music that floated out to 
meet him. Through the brilliantly lighted, 
open windows, he could see the revelers ; and 
he paused, involuntarily, when he recognized 
the face of his betrothed wife. He took in at 
a glance the costume of the fair girl before 
him, — her bare, white arms and neck, her 
flushed, ardent face, even the flowers upon her 
bosom, stamped themselves indelibly upon his 
mind. Mr. Worthington’s flowing beard min- 


156 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

gled with her sunny hair, as they circled 
round, and round, in the mazy waltz, and 
his face wore an expression of passionate 
yearning that made Dr. Gordon’s usually pale 
face flush hotly. Then he went away to his 
room, with a heavy heart. He smiled, a sad 
little smile, when he read his invitation, and 
said softly, to himself: ‘‘‘God is a prayer- 
hearing and a prayer-answering God.’ I can 
not doubt but he will bring her to himself,” 
But little he knew how different God's way 
would be from his, in bringing about the 
desired result. 



CHAPTER XYI. 

HE following week ran its rapid course. 
Every day Hr. Gordon saw Edna, more 
or less alone ; but she had a way of 
suddenly summoning a third party when he 
attempted any serious conversation that com- 
pletely baffled him. She was sweetness itself 
when with him, but he could never keep her 
with him long at a time. 

Once she was betrayed into conversing earn- 
estly; but just at that moment Mr. Worthing- 
ton came upon them suddenly, and she 
instantly assailed him with a perfect battery of 
senseless small- talk. 

All taken together. Hr. Gordon and Mr. 

W orthington were two thoroughly uncomf orta- 
( 157 ) 




158 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

ble beings. Mr. Worthington, on his part, 
cordially hated Dr. Gordon, and after this 
particular encounter he went moodily away by 
himself, muttering, 

‘^The canting hypocrite! I’ll win her yet. 
No power on earth can prevent me.” 

As for Dr. Gordon, he longed, with unutter- 
able longing, to snatch this brand from the 
burning ; and his prayers grew almost impa- 
tient in their intensity. A thousand jealous 
fears and fancies tormented him, that he laid 
resolutely down one moment, only to take up 
again the next. He firmly believed that God, 
in his own good time, and way, would lead 
Edna to himself ; nevertheless, if God’ s time 
could only be Ms—\i just now., he could see 
of the travail of his soul,” then, indeed, he 
should be satisfied. But, for some unex- 
plained reason, God’s way is seldom quite our 
way. And greatly surprised would Dr. Gor- 
don have been, could he have looked behind 
the scenes, and seen the wonderful array of 


By a 'Way that They Knew Not. 159 

events even tlien marching on toward the ful- 
fillment of his petition. 

So, according to His own will — not any 
human plan— Grod works out his own design 
for you and me. 

“ And if, through patient toil, we reach the land 

Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest, — 
Where we shall clearly know, and understand, — 

I think that we will say, ‘ Grod knew the best.’” 

A few days later, Dr. Gordon went home, 
and that same evening Edna received a letter 
from her father. Now, it was not wonderful 
that Mr. Byford should write to his daughter ; 
but usually he left the family correspondence 
to his wife, — as he did most things pertaining 
to his children, — and important indeed must 
he have deemed his message, or he would not 
have done so unusual a thing. 

Edna’s face fiushed with surprise as she read 
her letter. 

“Humph!” she said aloud. “The idea! 
Whatever possessed papa to write such a 
letter?” 


160 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

Saying which, she glanced again over one 
paragraph. 

“Mr. Worthington seems sincere in his pro- 
posal ; and it will relieve me of much anxiety 
to know that your future is well provided for,” 
thus ran the letter. 

Edna frowned ominously as she refolded 
her letter ; and sorely did she try Mr. Worth- 
ington’s patience from that time. He had 
hoped much from these weeks of unrestrained 
intimacy, and he felt thoroughly vexed and 
discomfited when the camp broke up, a week 
later, and he took his seat by the capricious 
little lady’s side on their return trip. 

About that time. Nelson Keith paced slowly 
up and down the veranda, in the summer twi- 
light. Mrs. Keith sat near the low, open win- 
dow, her finger between the leaves of the 
book she had been reading. But evidently 
her son’s presence, at that moment, was more 
interesting than Robertson’ s Living Thoughts. 

“Mother,” Nelson said, presently, “I have 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 161 

made up my mind it is time I began my life- 
work.” 

“And that is your profession?” Mrs. Keith 
said, thoughtfully. 

“Yes,” he replied, sitting down on an otto- 
man in front of her, and taking the book from 
her hand. “I know of no profession — not 
even the ministry — that ofters so wide a field 
of labor.” 

“Yes,” she said, earnestly, “a Christian 
physician’s influence is almost boundless. 
Blessed indeed are those to whom he comes, 
armed with prayer. I feel sincere pity for the 
homes over which the dark-winged angel 
seems hovering, where the stricken ones hang 
anxiously on every look, and word, of a world- 
ly, Godless doctor. Whereas, I congratulate 
the pain-racked patient whose room is hal- 
lowed by the presence of a physician who 
relies, in every emergency, upon the Strong 
for strength, 

“I almost tremble when I think of assum- 


11 


162 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

ing such solemn responsibilities,” he answered, 
gravely. 

“If you entered upon this work depending 
upon your own strength, I should indeed be 
fearful,” Mrs. Keith said, gently. 

And Nelson Keith’s face was aglow with 
earnest feeling, as he answered, — 

“ ‘Behold, God is my salvation ; I will trust, 
and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my 
strength.’ ” 

“ ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob 
for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his 
God,’ ” Mrs. Keith answered, softly. 

A little silence fell between them then, 
broken abruptly by Nelson, saying, — 

“I think Chicago offers as wide a field for 
usefulness as I could desire.” 

So it came to pass, a few weeks later, that a 
modest sign, bearing the inscription, “N. E. 
Keith, M.D.,” gave notice that he would gladly 
alleviate the distress of suffering humanity. 
And the way was opened, — as it usually is 


By a ~Way that They Knew Kot. 


163 


in the line of duty, — and hither and thither 
flew the busy doctor, often returning to his 
ofiice wearied beyond expression. 

Dainty and home-like was this same richly 
carpeted, elegantly furnished oflBlce, — or inner 
sanctum, — where, times without number. Dr. 
Keith consulted with the Great Physician.” 

People spoke of him as a wonderful doctor. 
Indeed, they pronounced his cures quite mar- 
velous. At which he smiled quietly, saying, 
within himself, “ ‘I can do all things through 
Christ, which strengtheneth me.’ ” 




CHAPTER Xyil. 

HE late summer and early autumn sped 
away, and the first snow-fiakes found 
“our set” fully launched upon the 
tide of winter gayety. 

More and more unsatisfactory were Edna’s 
letters, and finally Hr. Gordon decided to visit 
her. So, one winter evening, he walked briskly 
up Michigan avenue and presently reached the 
Byford mansion. He mounted the steps, two 
at a time, and rang the bell. Noiselessly the 
massive door swung upon its hinges, and a 
moment later he found himself in the elegant 
drawing-room, waiting for Edna’s appearance. 
If he had expected her to run with lover-like 
haste to meet him, he was doomed to disap- 
pointment. An hour— perhaps more— passed, 
and then she swept into the room in full even- 
ing dress, her diamonds scintillating dazzlingly 
(164) 



By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


165 


in the gaslight. White and bare were her 
neck, and shoulders, and arms, on which the 
costly gems glittered, and she stood before 
him like a beautiful temptress, making the 
young blood leap wildly through his veins. 
Like some fierce whirlwind, — that sways the 
giant oak, yet leaves it steadfast, — the mo- 
mentary emotion passed ; leavings in its place 
a horror, that his promised wife could be thus 
capable of rousing unhallowed thoughts. 

All the while he was asking and answering 
kindly questions of greeting, his thoughts ran 
on: “No wonder vice walks abroad with 
brazen face, when high bred, cultured women 
make themselves a target for lustful eyes, and 
drive men to the verge of madness with their 
seductive wiles ! I suppose she will waltz to- 
night, folded in some senseless idiot’s arms.” 

And this last thought impelled him — per- 
haps unwisely — to say, suddenly, “O, Edna, 
I wish I had the right to say something to 
you.” 


/ 


166 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


“Perhaps you have,” she said, looking up 
shyly. 

“I am afraid you will be offended, he said, 
doubtfully, “but do you know, I wish you 
would go up* stairs and put on another dress.” 

“Another dress!” she repeated, looking at 
him in dazed astonishment. 

‘ ‘ Cover your neck and arms with something ! 
anything! — that’s what I mean,” he went on, 
desperately. 

“Absurd!” she said, laughing outright, 
and coolly surveying herself in a full-length 
mirror. “Why, Worth exhausted his skill 
when he designed this dress ; and now you 
don’t admire it ! Now, Mr. Worthington will 
say it is exquisiie^^'^ she rattled on. 

Dr. Grordon surveyed her from head to foot, 
with a perplexed air. 

“I don’t know how to express what I want 
to say,” he said at last. “The dress is cer- 
tainly beautiful — ” 

“You are willing to admit that much,” she 
interrupted, with a toss of her dainty head. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


167 


‘‘But, — I should not want a sister of mine to 
wear it,” he added, with gentle decision. “I 
beg your pardon for saying so, but as I com- 
menced by being frank, I may as well con- 
tinue.” 

He stopped, and seemed to give Edna a 
chance to answer ; but she stood perfectly still 
before him, and he added, kindly, “I don’t 
think fashionable young ladies pause to con- 
sider the magnitude of their power. Why, my 
dear child, there is no limit to a woman's 
influence ! ” 

Edna laughed, — a teasing, bewitching laugh. 
“Now you are preaching at me,” she said, in 
the voice of a petulant child. 

Just then a servant handed her a card, 
immediately followed by Mr. Worthington, 
and Dr. Gordon arose, and bowed distantly; 
then Edna accompanied him to the door. 

“I’m sorry I had an engagement for this 
evening,” she said, regretfully. 

“Yes, /am sorry,” he answered, taking her 


168 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

little hand in his. “ Good night, my darling. 
God bless you!” And then he pressed one 
quick kiss on her lips — the first since their 
betrothal — and left her. 

‘‘What a solemn-looking fellow that is!” 
said Mr. Worthington, sneeringly, when Edna 
re-entered the room. “I’d awfully hate to be 
pious, if it would make me look like him.” 

“No fear of it,” returned Edna, decidedly. 
“There isn’t the least danger.” And actually 
he didn’t know whether she intended a com- 
pliment, or not. 

As for Dr. Gordon, he went out from her 
presence with weakened faith. And why ? 
Because God was doing his own work, in his 
own good time, and way ? Ah me ! If Chris- 
tians could only realize how wise, and kind, 
and watchful the Father is, would they dis- 
trust him so ? 

An hour later, Edna was mingling with a 
crowd where her dress was not the exception, 
but the rule ; and the only comment it ex- 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


169 


cited was, “Perfectly lovely!” “Charm- 
ing ! ” “ Too sweet for anything ! ” and so on. 
Surely, amid this adulation the little lady 
would have been quite unwilling to admit that 
Dr. Gordon’s earnest words made her uncom- 
fortable, and notice — tor the first time with dis- 
gust — the fixed look of admiration some of 
the young dudes gave her. 

“Upon my word, I’d like to stand in 
Worthington’s shoes,” she overheard one say, 
to another, as they glided by to strains of rap- 
turous music. 

She shrank away from him then, but, 
emboldened by the witching motion, and 
voluptuous music, he drew her closer to him. 
And presently he led her to the cool conserva- 
tory, for rest. Softly beautiful sounded the 
music in that tropical retreat, and the very air 
about them seemed propitious for the words of 
passionate love that Mr. Worthington was 
prepared to utter. 

The color flooded Edna’s face as she listened. 


170 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

with down-cast eyes ; then there was a flash of 
diamonds as Mr. Worthington withdrew Dr. 
Gordon’s precious symbol of union from her 
finger^ and replaced it with his own costlier 
gift. He did not say they would walk ‘‘ Heav- 
enward, ” — oh no, a mansion of stone and 
mortar was quite sufficient for him. And not 
once did he remember that here have we no 
continuing city.” 

“Please return this, with my compliments,” 
he said, smiling triumphantly, as he handed 
her the discarded ring. 

And the first pink tints of early morning 
tinged the eastern sky, before Edna had fin- 
ished a letter to Dr. Gordon, that ran thus : 

Dr. Gordon: 

My Dear Friend — For I shall always think of you as such 
— I have not the courage to say to you the words that I must 
write. In justice to both of us, I have decided to tell you 
that I think it is best for our engagement to end. 

I enclose the ring you so kindly gave me, hoping you will 
find a much worthier woman to wear it than 

Your sincere friend, 

Edna Byford. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 171 

With great rejoicing was the news of Edna’s 
later engagement received by the Byford fam- 
ily. The shade, fast becoming habitual to 
Mr. Byford’s face, visibly lightened, and Char- 
lie expressed his approbation in no measured 
terms. 

‘‘I’ll be hanged, Sis, if I ain’t glad!” said he. 
“Gfordon may be well enough, but he isn’t one 
of our sort. I never felt at home with him.” 

Edna’s lip curled contemptuously when she 
heard this remark. Poor child ! With eyes 
wide open, she had walked into the golden 
net, and now her unwary feet were tangled in 
its meshes. 

And how did Dr. Gordon receive the news ? 
He read the short letter with a little start of 
surprise ; then he looked at the tiny circlet, — 
so jeweled with precious memorit-s of a sainted 
mother, — then over his earnest, manly face 
flashed an unspeakable thankfulness ; and he 
bowed his head upon the open letter saying : 
‘ ‘ My Father, I thank thee for this wonderful 


deliverance.” 




^ERRILY went on the preparations 
for Edna’s marriage. Within the 
Byford mansion. Dame Fashion 
reigned supreme ; and Dame Rumor’s tongue 
found a prolific theme for gossip in the won- 
derful trousseau of the prospective bride. 

“ Pussie means to die game,” said Mabel 
Lester, having caught the slang phrase from 
her brother. 

“She means to ruin her father,” replied 
Miss Upton, “ if reports are true.” 

“ I cZo believe all the child is getting married 
for, is to have an elegant trousseau,” chimed 
in Ella Faircourt. 

“Elmer Worthington just worships her,” 

Mabel said, thoughtfully. 

(172 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


173 


“He adores her pretty face,” responded Ella 
Faircourt, scornfully. 

Miss Upton shrugged her shoulders. 

“That’s about all there is to her,” she said, 
in her cool, contemptuous way. “ She always 
makes me think of a fashion-plate.” 

“ I guess she’ll set the fashion in wedding- 
dresses,” returned Mabel. “Why, they do 
say if hers was made of bank bills it couldn’t 
have cost more.” 

“I think such foolish extravagance is ridic- 
ulous answered Miss Upton. Saying which, 
she arose, and deftly shook out her volumi- 
nous drapery. 

“There’s one consolation,” said Mabel, gay- 
ly, “as her bridesmaids, we shall all share 
her honors.” 

“Humph ! ” said Miss Upton. 

And then Miss Faircourt and Miss Upton 
walked away together. 

Meantime, Mr. Byford was growing haggard 
and careworn. The great financial crisis, 


174 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

that for months had menaced the mercantile 
world, was approaching its culmination. One 
after another, strong houses had gone down, 
burying weaker ones, beneath their hopeless 
ruin. And now, the stately house of Byford 
& Co. was tottering to its very foundation. 
No wonder then — with sleepless nights, and 
harrassed days — Mr. Byford began to feel the 
continued strain. But quite oblivious of his 
perplexity was Mrs. Byford, who dreamed her 
rose-tinted, fanciful dreams, unconscious of 
the coming storm. 

Perhaps it was as well, however, for quite 
powerless would she have been to prevent the 
impending catastrophe, and the dreadful un- 
certainty attending a calamity is often far 
harder to bear than the disaster itself. 

In happy unconsciousness of any monetary 
embarrassment, Mrs. Byford presented herself 
in her husband’s private office, pocket-book in 
hand. 

“I want a check for a thousand dollars, my 
dear,” she said, carelessly. 


JBy a TFay that They Kneio Not. 


175 


Her husband drew in his feet, and looked at 
her, without speaking. 

“Don’t keep me waiting, that’s a darling,” 
she went on, good-naturedly. “I’m to meet 
Edna at Field’s at ten, and ” — pulling out her 
watch — “why, my goodness, it only lacks one 
minute of ten now ! ” 

“ I could let you have a check for a thousand 
cents better than so many dollars,” Mr. Byford 
said, dismally. 

“Now, Erasmus, dorCt croak!” This in 
an impatient tone. “And I’m in such a hurry, 
too. Edna, dear child, will think I’ve forgot- 
ten her.” 

Mr. Byford proceeded to make out the 
check, muttering, meanwhile, to himself, “I’ll 
indulge them as long as I can. I don’t sup- 
pose it will make much difference in the end.” 
He handed it to her, saying, seriously, — 

“You must make it go as far as possible, 
Edie ; times are awful hard just now.” 

“That’s just what men always say,” 


176 By a Way that They Knew Kot, 

laughed Mrs. Byford. Then she went tri- 
umphantly to the waiting carriage. 

“0, mamma, whatever did make you so 
late ? ” was Edna’s petulant greeting. 

Mrs. By ford smiled indulgently. 

“It’s too ridiculous,” said she, “but your 
pa hesitated some time before he gave me a 
check. And do you know, he actually cau- 
tioned me about spending it ! ” 

“The idea!'’^ cried Edna, incredulously. 

At this point they reached the lace- counter ; 
and forthwith the gentlemanly clerk displayed 
his richest goods. 

“I assure you, this over-dress is cheap at 
five hundred,” said he, in his blandest tones, 
holding up for their inspection a garment that 
might have been woven in a spider’ s loom, so 
delicate was it in texture. 

“ It is perfectly lovely ! ” said Edna. 

And then a few final words exchanged one- 
half the check for the useless article. 

Two hours later, Mrs. Byford leaned wearily 
back in her carriage. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


177 


“Oh dear,” sighed she, “how money does 
run away. And I have hardly got one thing 
I intended to get.” 

“ What’s the nse of fussing about it ? ” Edna 
answered, pertly. “ That over-dress is too 
sweet for anything ; and I guess there’s more 
money where that came from.” 

The consequence was, that the following day 
Mrs. Byford again besieged her husband for 
money. 

“Probably it will be the last we shall feel 
obliged to do for Edna,” she said, knowing 
that his petted daughter was his most vulnera- 
ble point. 

Of course he yielded, but he sighed wearily 
as he scrawled his name on the required 
paper. 

About that time the Worthington family 
were seated at the dinner-table. 

“By the way, Elmer,” began Mr. Worthing- 
ton, “that father-in-law of yours wanted me 

to indorse notes to Xhe amount of five hundred 
12 


178 By a Way that They Knew Kot. 

thousand this morning. Rather presuming on 
his chance of relationship, wasn’t it 

Did you accommodate him?” Elmer asked, 
trying to appear composed. 

‘‘Hardly,” said Mr. Worthington, leisurely 
sipping his champagne.. “It is against the 
rules of our house. And besides, I don’t think 
Byford & Co. will weather the storm.” 

“Ah!” said Elmer, anxiously, “Is it so 
bad as that ?” 

“Yes,” returned Mr. Worthington, gravely. 
“ I wish you was well out of your scrape with 
the daughter.” 

The flush on Elmer’s face deepened, and he 
answered, haughtily, — 

“I’m not marrying the girl’s money?'* 

At this point Mrs. Worthington and her 
daughter exchanged significant glances, and 
Miss Nellie added her voice to the discussion. 

“Nevertheless,” she said, smiling incredu- 
lously, “you wouldn’t have thought of her if 
she’d been poor.” 


Hy a TFay They Knew Kot. 179 

Elmer bit his lip with vexation, and answer- 
ed, sharply, — 

''"‘Your opinion has not been asked on the 
subject, but I don’t mind telling you that I 
consider Miss Byford’s face a fortune in 
itself.” 

Miss Nellie laughed sarcastically. 

‘ ‘ What you can see so remarkable about 
her, is more than / can see.” 

^^You look at her through green glasses,” 
retorted Elmer. 

“What’s the use in quarreling over the 
girl?” queried Mr. Worthington. “But I tell 
you, my boy, if things are as bad as I think 
they are, she will be penniless. And — really — 
a pretty face is hardly worth the price you in- 
tend to pay.” 

‘‘Notwithstanding, I think I shall risk the 
price,” Elmer answered, trying to smile. 

Meantime, fire, and fiood, and shipwreck, 
and manifold complications — beyond his power 
to prevent — conspired together. Extravagance 


\ 


180 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

at home, and treachery abroad, added their 
mite to swell the current bearing Mr. Byford 
on to destruction. He had caught at his 
daughter’s engagement — and ultimate mar- 
riage — with the only son. of Mr, Worthington, 
senior partner in the princely firm of Worth- 
ington, Steele & Co., something as a drowning 
man 'would clutch at a straw, hoping there- 
by to gain sufficient infiuence to bridge the 
yawning chasm. But the last plank had crum- 
bled beneath his feet. What, then, was he 
to do? 

Ah, many and many a* man has gone down 
into the depths of financial ruin, leaning on 
the “Strong Arm,” and from the turbid 
waters has brought precious treasure of faith, 
made strong by fiery trial, and friendship 
proved and true, and family ties cemented 
and strengthened, by the trying test. But no 
such support had Mr. Byford. He had built 
his house upon the treacherous sand, and the 
floods had come, and winds were battering it 
down. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


181 


At last there came a day, when he came 
home, and went straight to his library, and 
securely locked the door. Then up and down 
its length he paced, like some caged animal, 
muttering fiercely, — 

Tm a ruined man! Utterly, irretrievably 
ruined I ’’ 

Wearied at length with walking, he sank 
into a chair, bowed his head upon his clenched 
hands, and wept great scalding tears of agony. 
Ah me ! If, instead of this useless lamentation, 
he had said within his heart, ‘‘Though He 
slay me, yet will I trust Him,” and, thus say- 
ing, he had faced the worst, with brave, true 
courage, what agony his family would have 
been spared. Instead of this, however, he 
raised his head and cast a furtive look around 
the room. Then, with desperate firmness, he 
drew a pistol from a drawer beside him, and a 
moment later its loud report startled Mrs. By- 
ford from her afternoon nap, and brought the 
servants, pale and terrified, to the awful scene. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

S it a chance happening, or a guid- 
ing of the unseen Hand, that made , 
Dr. Keith drive by at that particular 
moment ? Be this as it may, into the wild 
confusion he came, — calm, self-possessed, al- 
most divinely kind. Near the door, — in a little 
curled-up, senseless heap, — lay Edna, while 
Mrs. Byford paced the floor, wringing her 
hands in wild, hysterical sorrow. 

“ O, Doctor, save him ! ” she cried, springing 
to meet him. 

But even as she spoke, his quick, profes- 
sional eye saw that Mr. Byford was beyond 
all human aiding. 

Inflnitely gentle was the voice that answered, 
solemnly, — 

“My dear madam, he is beyond our care.” 

(182) 



By a Way that They Knew Not. 


183 


With a wild shriek, Mrs. Byford knelt beside 
her dead. Dr. Keith gently raised Edna in his 
arms. 

“ Show me the way to Miss Byford’s room,” 
he said to a white-faced servant, and without 
further ceremony he carried her thither. 

“Loosen her clothes,” he directed, “and 
give her plenty of air ; she will recover con- 
sciousness soon enough. 

And a moment later he was saying to Mrs. 
By ford, in a low, even- toned voice, — that rare- 
ly failed to quiet Dr. Keith’s most fractious 
patients, — 

“Your daughter needs you, Mrs. By ford; let 
me take you to her.” 

“Edna, my poor darling ! ” she sobbed; and, 
with gentle firmness, he drew her away from 
the awful spectacle, and curious, gaping crowd. 

At this point, Charlie burst breathlessly into 
the room. 

“Good heavens. Doctor, it canH be true ! ” 
he cried, in a frenzy of horror. 


184 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

Dr. Keith simply bowed his head. 

Charlie glanced at the rigid, sheeted form 
before him, and shuddered. 

‘‘ It is too terrible,” he said. Then, heedless 
of the staring throng, he sank into the same 
chair, and leaned his head upon the same table, 
where his father had wept his last vain regrets, 
and his bowed form shook with uncontrollable 
anguish. 

For a brief time. Dr. Keith let the natural 
emotion have its way. But as he waited, his 
voiceless prayer ascended, and when he spoke, 
his voice was magnetized by Him who wept 
sympathizing tears with those who mourned. 

“ My poor boy ! he said, at last, “for your 
mother’s and sister’s sake, you must try to bear 
this trial manfully. 

“Poor mother! Poor Edna!” groaned 
Charlie. 

“I am going to them now; will you come 
with me % ” 

He linked his arm in Charlie’ s as he spoke, 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 185 

and led Mm to the room where Edna and her 
mother wept together. It was a scene often- 
times repeated, yet ever sad, ever new, — a 
wife and daughter yielding to their first aban- 
donment of grief. And what consolation could 
Dr. Keith give them % Could he speak to them 
of the bright, eternal morning, when they 
might hope to meet their lost loved one % 
Could he tell them that their loss was his 
gain?” Ah me ! Ah me ! Death is unuttera- 
bly sad, — the long parting, unspeakably dreary, 
— even in Christian homes. What, then, must 
it be where the Savior’s love does not lighten 
the grave’s d^k gloom? Oh, happy those 
who can bow submissively, and kiss the chas- 
tening rod 1 

Softly, Dr. Keith and Charlie entered the 
room, and Edna, looking up, knew for the first 
time that “the doctor,” so often alluded to, 
was Dr. Keith. 

“Oh, Dr. Keith! I am so glad it is you!” 
she said, somewhat incoherently. And to her 


186 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

heart there came an assurance^ that they had a 
tower of strength to lean upon. 

Presently she said, — 

‘‘Dr. Keith : my mother.” 

Very few words he had to offer; yet in every 
look, and tone, was manifest his tenderest 
sympathy. 

“Believe me,” he said gently, as he arose to 
go, ‘ “ He doth not afflict willingly.’ ” 

But upon deaf ears fell the message. 

“ My husband, oh my husband ! ” was Mrs. 
Byford’s plaintive wail. 

And Dr. Keith turned to Charlie, saying, — 
“Have you any message that you would 
like me to give to any of your friends ? ” 

Charlie turned to Edna. 

“Perhaps, Sis, you ought to send some word 
to Mr. Worthington.” 

The blood rolled in rich waves over Edna’s 
face, and she quickly answered, — 

“ Of course he’ll hear of it. Everyone will.” 
And then the ready tears choked her utter- 


ance. 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


187 


So Charlie gave the final directions, and Dr. 
Keith went his way to visit other houses, 
where they were eagerly waiting for him. 
And sure enough, ^‘everybody” did hear of 
the awful event. The evening papers seized 
upon the thrilling item of news, and headed 
the column, ‘‘Terrible tragedy in high life.” 
And the thousand and one friends of the 
family discussed it over their tea, and won- 
dered what they would do now ; and whether 
Elmer Worthington would be such an idiot as 
to marry a beggar. 

“I don’t see what they will do,” said Mr. 
Worthington, meditatively. “ They haven’t 
a dollar they can call their own.” 

“ Of course, Elmer, you won’ t mix yourself 
up with such a scandal!” interrupted Miss 
Nellie. 

At which Elmer gave her a scathing glance, 
and left the room, without speaking. 

Meanwhile, out upon the moon-lit air floated 
the dismal crape, while within the dimly- 


188 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


lighted mansion the little stricken family hud- 
dled together in a room as remote as possible 
from the library. People passed and repassed 
the house ; gazed curiously at the darkened 
windows ; wondered in which room the re- 
mains of Mr. Byford lay, how the family felt, 
what their future plans would be, if there 
would be a large attendance at the funeral, 
and so on, through the endless round of spec- 
ulation usually indulged in at such times. 
Various were the comments made — charitable, 
and otherwise — on the surviving members of 
the family. But, truth to tell, the latter pre- 
dominated. 

^‘They’re a brainless, extravagant set,” said 
one gruff individual. “I wouldn’t give the 
snap of my finger for any one of them.” 

Nevertheless, many were the cards of condo- 
lence received the following day. Among 
them, one from Elmer Worthington. Full of 
indecision, and doubt, was he, poor man ! 
And then, he abominated tears, — faces are not 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 189 

apt to be at their best when swollen and dis- 
colored by weeping, — so, after much delibera- 
tion, he concluded to wait until they were 
calmer. Meanwhile, he contented himself by 
ordering a costly floral emblem — a broken col- 
umn, with the word “rest” at its base — to be 
sent the day of the funeral. Having done this, 
he shut himself up in his room, and cursed the 
fate that had thwarted his wishes. 

As for Mrs. Byford, after the first few hours, 
she had hardly time to indulge in natural grief. 
Madam Dunbar came, and endless were the 
discussions in regard to necessary mourning. 

“I want everything of the very best,"^^ said 
Mrs. Byford, decisively. 

“But, — the very best is very expensive,” 
ventured Madam. 

Mrs. Byford looked amazed. 

“And what of that?” she said, almost 
sharply. 

Madam thought of the exorbitant, unpaid 
bill ; but it was no time to speak of it. And 


190 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

then, things might not be as bad as represented; 
so she answered, quite humbly, — 

‘‘Excuse me; I think I understand your 
wishes.’’ 

So it came to pass that, equal in richness to 
the bridal trosseau, was the mourning outfit. 

At length the day of the funeral came, and 
the spacious drawing-room was crowded with 
the elite of the city. In his elegant, silver- 
mounted, velvet-palled casket, reposed Mr. 
Byford, surrounded by a wealth of pure, 
waxen bloom. But what eared he for the vain 
display and pomp % Indeed, it seemed almost 
a mockery, to surround him with emblems of 
peace, and faith, and victory. 

“Earth to earth, dust to dust,” said the 
minister. 

Then down upon the flower- covered coffin 
rolled the cold clod, and all that was mortal 
of Mr. Byford, rested peacefully beneath it. 



CHAPTER XX. 

f HE day after the funeral, Mr. Needham, 
legal adviser of By ford & Co., called. 
Now, strange as it may seem, Mrs. 
Byford was totally ignorant of the change in 
her husband’s circumstances ; so, when he ex- 
pressed his deep regret at the unfortunate turn 
affairs had taken, she stared at him in blank 
amazement. 

“Perhaps, Mr. Needham,” Charlie said, 
quickly, “it would be better not to trouble 
mother with business details. If you will come 
with me to the library, I will give close atten- 
tion to anything you have to say.” 

And now it was Mr. Needham’s turn to look 
surprised, — so used was he to thinking of 

“young Byford” as a senseless fop. But 
( 191 ) 


192 JBy a ~Way that They Knew Not, 

quite unlike the exquisite dude of his acquaint- 
ance, was the grave-faced, quietly- dressed 
young man before him. 

^‘Why Charlie, don’t understand busi- 
ness!” Mrs. Byford said, incredulously. 

^‘Perhaps I do, more than you give me 
credit for,” he answered, quietly. ‘‘At any 
rate, I can learn. Shall we retire to the libra- 
ry, Mr. Needham?” 

And with a brief “Excuse me, madam,” 
Mr. Needham arose, and followed him thither. 

As they entered the death-haunted room, 
Charlie was conscious of a little thrill of nerv- 
ous, sickening dread. He quickly threw open 
the blinds and motioned Mr. Needham to a seat. 

“Please begin at the begining, and tell me 
all,” he said, with forced calmness. 

Mr. Needham eyed him curiously, and to 
his inner self he said, “I am happily disap- 
pointed in him. There’ s more to him than I 
imagined. He may make a man yet, who 
knows?” Then he said, aloud : 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 193 

‘ ‘ I declare, By ford, it’ s a bad affair, from be- 
ginning to end ! I think your father must 
have been absolutely crazy, not to make any 
provision for his family outside of his busi- 
ness.” 

“I want to know the worst, and have done 
with it,” Charlie responded. 

“The worst?” burst forth Mr. Needham. 
“Why, my dear boy, you have not a dollar in 
the world that you can call your own ! ” 

Charlie’s pale face turned a shade paler, and 
his slender hand clenched the arm of his chair, 
until the finger-tips dented the firm leather cush- 
ion. Otherwise he was unmoved. ‘ ‘ He shall 
never have it to say I acted like a whining 
boy,” his thought was; and certainly of the 
two, the usually cool, collected lawyer showed 
the most emotion. 

“What are the liabilities?” he questioned, 
briefly. 

“ Somewhere in the neighborhood of two 

hundred thousand, I should say.” 

13 


194 By a Way that They Kneio Not. 

course the house will have to go, 
Charlie said, more to himself than Mr. Need- 
ham. 

‘‘Certainly. And if not, it takes money to 
keep up such an establishment.” 

“I don’t care for myself,” Charlie answered, 
hastily, “but it will be a crushing blow to 
mother and Edna.” 

“Your sister expects to marry soon, does 
she not?” questioned Mr. Needham. 

A quick spasm of bitter pain crossed Char- 
lie’s face. 

“It is impossible to tell. Probably not,” 
he answered. 

“Well,” said Mr. Needham, rising, “ if I 
can help you in any way, don’t hesitate to call 
on me. Your father was an old friend, and I 
shall be most happy to assist his son in any 
way within my power.” Saying which he 
departed, leaving Charlie alone with his 
wretchedness. 

And to his dying hour that day would stand 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


195 


out, in Charlie Byford’s memory, distinct from 
any other day of his life. Hour after hour 
passed, as he went over, and over, the hopeless 
situation. And not one of “our set” did he 
think of, as likely to be of any service. But 
time and again, Dr. Keith’s grave, strong face 
presented itself before him, until he said, 
decidedly : 

“T will see him in the morning. If anyone 
can help me, he can. And now, I suppose, I 
must tell mother.” 

“Give up the house! Go into cheap 
apartments 1 ” Mrs. Byford fairly screamed. 
“ Charlie Byford, are you insane ? ” 

Charlie sighed wearily. Poor boy ! he so 
sorely needed upholding himself. 

“I wish it was a delusion of the imagina- 
tion,” he answered, sadly, “ but I am afraid it 
is too true.” 

“ I wish I was dead ! ” cried Edna. “ What 
will our set say % ” 

“If you only had been married before this 


196 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

happened,” sighed Mrs. Byford. “And you 
might have been, if you hadn’t fooled your 
time away with that Dr. Grordon.” 

“ Dr. Gordon wouldn’ t have deserted me at 
such a time as this,” sobbed Edna. 

And strange enough, at that moment a serv- 
ant entered with a card. “Elmer C. Worth- 
ington,” it read, and Edna ran lightly away 
to her room to re-arraDge her toilet ; while Mrs. 
By ford said, hopefully, — 

“It may all come out right yet. Who 
knows ? ” 

Mr. W orthington had worked himself into a 
perfect fever of heroism, and proposed an im- 
mediate, quiet marriage, with an extended 
trip abroad, for a wedding journey. 

“It will all blow over in a year,” he said, 
consolingly, thinking, meanwhile, that never, 
in her palmiest days, had his betrothed looked 
so charming, as in her unadorned robes of 
mourning. 

“Let’s see,” he added, musingly,” this is 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 197 

Monday, and the Europea sails Saturday. We 
had better start for New York Thursday 
night.’’ 

“So soon ? ” cried Edna, in dismay. 

“The sooner the better,” he replied, “and 
after all, it will only be a few weeks sooner 
than we had planned. I will step round first 
thing in the morning and secure tickets,” 
saying which, Mr. Worthington departed, and 
Edna went away to her bed, to dream of a 
happy deliverance from all her troubles. 

But, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
saith the Lord.” And, by ways that they 
know not, he leads his wandering children to 
himself. 

The next morning, Edna awoke with parched 
lips, and throbbing head. Her limbs all ached, 
and every pulse-beat was a pain. 

“ O, mamma ! I’m afraid I’m very sick,” she 
cried, when Mrs. Byford came in to see her. 
“And if I am^I don’t want anyone but Br. 
Keith.” 


198 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


So, Dr. Keith was summoned, and grave in- 
deed he looked when he saw his patient. In 
the hall below he met Mr. W orthington. 

“Ah, Mr. Worthington, I was just wishing 
to see some friend of the family,” he said, cor- 
dially. “You are engaged to Miss Byford, 
are you not % ” 

“I have that honor,” Mr. Worthington 
answered, stiffly, greatly wondering what 
possible business it could be of Dr. Keith’s 
whether he was or not. 

Dr. Keith hesitated a moment before he said 
the next words. 

“I fear Miss Byford is going to be very sick.” 

“Very sick!” echoed Mr. Worthington. 
“ What appears to be the matter ? ” 

“Small-pox,” the doctor answered, gravely, 
“of the most virulent type, or I am greatly 
mistaken.” 

“ Small-pox ! ” ejaculated Mr. Worthington, 
stepping backward. “ Good heavens. Doctor ! 
Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


199 


Very cool was the voice that answered, — 

‘ ‘ There isn’t the least danger of infection at 
present, and I hoped the family conld rely on 
you in this emergency.” 

“Yes, — but, — the disease is so loathsome,” 
said Mr. Worthington. “It will be likely to 
disfigure Miss Byford for life, won’t it \ ” 

Dr. Keith surveyed him from head to foot, 
before he answered, — 

“The chances are that it willP 
Mr. Worthington possessed himself of his 
hat, murmured something about a previous 
engagement, and hastily left the house, haunt- 
ed by a vision of Edna, scarred and disfigured 
by marks of the dreadful, disgusting disease. 

“Poor girl!” he said to himself, “I’m 
sorry, “but I never could stand that, never. 
And I guess the old man was right anyway. 
Perhaps the best thing I can do is to run 
abroad for a few months, and let the whole thing 
blow over. What a fortunate thing I have en- 
gaged passage in the Europea , — for myself and 


200 By a Way that They Knew Not. 


wife. Ugh ! what if she hadn’t come down with 
the loathsome disease until after we started ? ” 
By this time, Mr. Worthington had reached 
his room, and straightway he proceeded to 
write to Edna, as follows : 

Dear Edna : 

You can not be more surprised, when you read this letter, 
than I am at myself for writing it. But unforeseen circum- 
stances have made our marriage an impossibility, and before 
you receive it I shall be many miles away. I can not tell 
you how sincerely I regret all this, nor how much I hope that 
you will recover from your illness, and find a friend more 
worthy of your regard than 

Elmer C. Worthington. 

The days had lengthened into weeks, and 
weeks to months, before Edna saw her letter. 
But Mrs. Byford shed bitter tears of disappoint- 
ment as she read it. Then she folded it, and 
put it in Edna’s desk, and to herself she said, — 
‘‘Poor child! perhaps death would be a 
merciful deliverance. There is nothing left 
worth living for.” 



CHAPTER XXI. 

GW people stared when they saw that 
card on the door. How they turned 
convenient corners, and crossed the 
street, and said, one to another, in awe-struck 
tones, “Small pox here!” And clamorous 
creditors bit their lips in vexation,— held at 
bay by those dreadful words. 

Within the plague- stricken mansion, ponfu- 
sion reigned. Hither and thither flew dis- 
tracted, terrifled servants, hastily gathering 
their belongings together, and tossing them into 
trunks and satchels, deaf to any appeal but 
their own personal safety. 

“What shall we do?” said Mrs. By ford, 
hopelessly, sinking into an easy-chair, and 
bursting into hysterical weeping. 

Charlie paused in his gloomy walk up and 
down the room. 



(201) 


202 By a Way that They Kneio Not. 

We must do the best we can,” he answered, 
despondently. 

“But there is not a servant in the house, 
not one.” 

This in a woefully dejected tone. 

“Oh well, weTl get along someway,” and 
he tried to make his tone encouraging. 

“That’s all men and boys know about 
things,” returned Mrs. By ford, almost impa- 
tiently. “I suppose you’ll want your dinner, 
cook or no cook. And such a kitchen as 
they’ve left. Not a dish washed, and the fire 
all out. Oh dear, it’s too dreadful ! ” and she 
buried her face in her handkerchief, and 
sobbed out the remainder of her troubles. 

Charlie leaned his elbow on the mantel, and 
rested his head on his hand, in utter despond- 
ency. 

About that time. Dr. Keith, in his private 
office, arose from his knees, and the closing 
words of his prayer were : 

“Dear Lord, I leave the result in Thy hands. 
Be it life, or death. Thy will be done.” 


By a Way that They Kneio JTot. 


203 


Triumphantly calm was his face as he said 
the words ; then he seated himself at his study 
table, and proceeded to write a letter to his 
mother, one clause of which ran as follows : 

‘‘I know you have had the disease, so there 
can be no possible fear of contagion, and so 
rich a field of work for the Master rarely opens. 
But I know my precious mother will not act 
upon my advice alone, so, whatever her decis- 
ion may be, I shall accept it as the best.” 

Half an hour later, he was talking earnestly 
with a kind-faced Irish woman. 

“ Sure, Dochter Kaith,” she said, in her rich 
Irish brogue, ^^its meself would be glad to do 
annythin’ in the worruld to oblige ye. Faith, 
an’ I wouldn’t be here the day if it wasn’t 
for ye.” 

felt sure I could depend on you,” he 
answered, kindly. 

‘‘Indade an’ ye may. I’ll pit on me bonnet 
to wanst, an’ go wid ye, if ye says so.” 

‘‘That will suit me perfectly,” Dr. Keith 
answered, heartily. 


204 By a Way that They Knew Kot. 

And before Mrs. Byford had time to dry her 
eyes, he ushered Mrs. Nora McFlin into her 
presence. 

‘ ^ I’ ve brought you something 'better than 
gold, Mrs. By ford,” he said, cheerily. ‘‘A 
friend in need, is above price, you know.” 

Ah ! ” Mrs. Byford said, with brightening 
face, ‘‘I had just given up, in despair.” 

“Things are never so bad, but they might 
be worse,” Dr. Keith replied, hopefully. 

Mrs. Byford shook her head, and looked 
doubtful. 

“The darkest clouds have a silver lining, 
and the Psalmist tells us, ‘Weeping may en- 
dure for a night, but joy cometh in the morn- 
ing,’” he added, gently. 

Then he went up to Edna’s room, and Mrs. 
Byford turned to Mrs. McFlin. 

“You are in search of a place, are you?” 
she questioned, briefly. 

Mrs. McFlin surveyed her interlocutor with 
a surprised stare. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 205 

“It’s not lookin’ afttier a place I am,” she 
answered, respectfully, “but Dochter Kaith 
was afther wantin’ me to come, an’ it’s anny- 
thin’ in the worruld I’d do to plaze 

Mrs. By ford arched her eyebrows, and Char- 
lie bit his mustache to suppress a smile. 

“ Can you cook?” she contined. 

“Sure, there’s niver a thin’ in the worruld 
I canH do if I tries!” Mrs. McFlin answered, 
with innocent self-complacency. 

Charlie laughed. 

“ You’re just the woman we want then,” he 
said. “As near as I can make out, there’s 
everything to do, and no one to do it.” 

“Phell, ’tis me private opinion that I bet- 
ther set to worruck to wanst thin. An’ if yez’ll 
show me the way to the kitchen, I’ll aisy 
find me way round afther that.” 

“ Charlie,” Mrs. By ford said, “will you go 
with her?” 

And Charlie arose quickly, glad of any 
diversion. 


206 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


“You’ll find things in a dreadful condi- 
tion,” Mrs. Byford said, dolefully, as they left 
the room. 

At the door of the dismal kitchen, Mrs. 
McFlin halted. 

“Och, but it’s the hurry they was in to be 
lavin’!” she cried. “Sure, an’ it’s plinty of 
hot wather it’ll want, to clane up all thim 
dishes. An’ niver a bit of fire in the shtove 
aither.” 

And with a resolute air she began to take the 
covers from the range. 

“I wonther where they’ll be afther kapin’ 
their kindlin’ s,” she said, presently. 

And Charlie plunged down the sub- cellar 
stairs, returning in a moment with an armful. 
Novel work it was for exquisite Charlie By- 
ford ; nevertheless, he quite enjoyed it. And 
while he watched Mrs. McFlin deftly “lay the 
fire,” he proceeded to cultivate her acquaint- 
ance. 

“Dr. Keith is an old acquaintance of 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 207 

yours?” he said, byway of beginning a con- 
versation. 

By this time the fire was crackling briskly, 
and Mrs. McFlin rested her hands on her hips, 
as she answered, — 

“Sure, it’s i\\e Allegant gintleman, Dochter 
Kaith is !” 

Charlie whittled industriously at a stick, and 
waited for her to say more. 

“ It was last fall, whin I had the faver, an’ 
we was that poor we had niver a crust in the 
house, an’ the neighbors all afeared to come 
near, for fear of gettin’ the faver. ‘ ’Tis a cryin’ 
shame,’ says Pat, ‘ the mane way we’re 
thrated ! ’ An’ thin, he took to dhrink that 
bad that it crazed him intirely. An’ one 
night, whin little Peggy cried for somethin’ to 
ate, what should Pat do but throw her clane 
across the room. ‘Murther!’ I shouted, an’ 
Dochter Kaith, passin’ jist at that blissed min- 
nit, opened the dure. 

“ ‘ What’s the matther ? ’ says he. 


^08 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

‘ ‘ ‘ Sure, an’ Pat’ s killed little Peggy ! ’ I 
cried. Be that time Pat had run through the 
back dure, an’ the dochter took little Peggy in 
his arrums, as tinder as a woman. I was that 
sick and thrimblin’ I couldn’t raise me hand 
to hilp him, an’ he ondressed the child, an’ 
comforted her that gentle, an’ thin he turned 
to me. 

“‘My poor woman, what can I do for 
you ? ’ he says, that kind. 

‘ ‘ Phell he lift me some midicine, an’ the nixt 
day he came agin, but not a bit did I know 
him ; an’ Pat sat on the edge av the bed, that 
broken-hearted, wid little Peggy in his arrums. 
Niver a word could he spake, for the shame he 
tilt, an’ the dochter talked that kind to him, an’ 
towld him how foolish an’ wickid it was for 
him to spind his aimin’ s in that sinseless way, 
niver providin’ for his family, but jist ruinin’ 
hissilf, body an’ sowl. An’, would ye belave 
it, Pat has niver dhrank a dhrap of the crather 
from that day to this ! ” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 209 

“Was the little girl much hurt?” ques- 
tioned Charlie, quite interested in the woman’s 
simple story. 

“Indade, an’ it’s niver walkin’ agin she’ll 
be,” Mrs. McFlin answered, sadly. “An’ it’s 
wild wid grafe Pat is, whin he thinks of it. But 
it’s not hissilf he was at all, whin he did it. 
Och, but the shtrong dhrink causes a power of 
throuble ! ” 

“ Couldn’t Dr. Keith do anything for the 
child?” Charlie questioned, sympathetically. 

“An’ it’s iverythin’ in the worruld he has 
done, that mortial man could do,” Mrs. McFlin 
answered, decidedly. “But whin the back’s 
clane broke, it’s no dochter in the worruld can 
mind it. Sure, Dochter Kaith couldn’t do 
more for wan of his own, than he’s done for 
our Peggy. An’ to see him come in his ille- 
gant sleigh, wid all the soft furs an’ robes in 
it, an’ carry the child out in his shtrong arrums, 
an’ tuck her all in, like a baby. Och, it’s few 
there are in the worruld like Dochter Kaith.” 


14 


210 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

‘ ‘ I guess you’re about right there, ” Charlie 
answered, heartily. 

And then the water began to steam, and Mrs. 
McFlin rattled the dishes in a way that meant 
more work, and less play. So Charlie left her 
in her kingdom, and went away to his room, 
saying softly, to himself: “I believe he will 
help me. At any rate, I mu^t have a talk with 
him.” 

But many days passed before he carried 
his decision into effect. Over the plague- strick- 
en mansion hovered the death-angel, and the 
dark, dark days succeeded each other in their 
monotonous round, and there seemed to be 
nothing in the world that Charlie could do — 
but wait. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

RS. KEITH read her letter thought- 
fully. 

“It is not the work I should have 
chosen,” she soliloquized ; “but, if not a spar- 
row falls to the ground without the Father’s 
notice, what can there be for me to fear?” 
Saying which, she looked at her watch, then 
arose and gave the bell an energetic ring. 

“I am going to Chicago this afternoon, 
Mary,” she said to the answering servant. 
“Tell Pat to have the carriage at the door by 
two o’clock.” 

And then she sought Susie. 

“O, mamma! how could Nelson write for 

you to come % ” Susie cried, in dismay. 

( 211 ) 



212 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

Exceeding gentle and tender was the low- 
toned answer, — 

‘ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it 
unto me. ’ ” 

“ Yes — I know. But — 0, mamma ! ” sobbed 
Susie, struggling vainly with her tears, “it is 
such a terrible disease. And how can I do 
without you 

Mrs. Keith tenderly smoothed her daughter’s 
hair, as she answered : 

“My dear child, when you are calmer you 
will think differently, and wish me Grod- speed 
on my errand.” 

Something in the calm, low voice quieted 
Susie instantly, and she brushed away the 
tears and answered, bravely, — 

“ And so I do ! Now tell me what I can do 
to help you.” 

At almost that identical moment. Dr. Keith, 
sitting in his private office, received a telegram : 

“I shall leave here in the 3 p. M. train,” it 
read. 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


213 


He uttered a low, fervent ‘‘ Thank God ! ” as 
he read it ; then he looked at his watch, and 
rang the otSce bell. 

“John,” said he, when the servant appeared, 
“I shall want the sleigh in readiness by half 
past four.” 

“Yes sir,” answered John. 

And thus it came to pass the following morn- 
ing, when Mrs. Byford chanced to look out of 
the window, she suddenly exclaimed : 

“Why, who under the sun is Dr. Keith 
bringing here now ? ” 

“The sweetest-faced woman I ever saw, who- 
ever she is,” Charlie answered, decidedly. 

And then Dr. Keith and his mother entered 
the room, and he said, — 

“ Mrs. Byford : my mother.” 

Mrs. Byford bowed, and he added with a 
rare, proud smile, — 

“I have been peculiarly anxious to secure 
a good nurse for Miss Byford, so I have en- 
gaged the be%t one I ever knew, and I feel 


214 By a UVay that They Knew Not. 

almost certain you will be satisfied with my 
choice.” 

If Mrs. Byford had been a Bible-reader, and 
familiar with its beautiful wording, she might 
have exclaimed : “ Surely ! ‘ Greater love hath 
no man than this, that a man lay down his life 
for his friends.’ ” 

As it was, her tongue was tied with aston- 
ishment, so strange, and utterly incomprehen- 
sible, seemed the unselfish self-sacrifice that 
could prompt anyone to brave contagion, and 
possible death, for the dearest friend. And 
she, a stranger, — what possible claim could she 
have on Mrs: Keith \ she reasoned within her- 
self ; and then she cried, — 

“Mrs. Keith, it can’t be possible ! ” 

“Yes,” very gently, “if you will let me, I 
shall be glad to help you.” 

For all answer Mrs. By ford bowed her head on 
the mantel, and sobbed outright. Mrs. Keith 
bent over her, and spoke in pitying tones : 

“ Poor child ! you are tired, and nervous ; go 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


215 


to yoTir room and lie down, and I will attend 
to everything for you till you feel better.” 

ashamed of myself,” said Mrs. By ford, 
struggling for composure ; “but my head aches 
dreadfully this morning, and I believe I am 
more nervous than common.” 

“No wonder, with all you’ve gone through 
lately,” Mrs. Keith said, in sympathetic tones. 
“I wonder that you have borne up so well.” 

Mrs. Byford wiped the tears from her eyes, 
and looked searchingly into the strong, tender 
face before her. 

“And you really mean to stay with me ! ” 

‘ ‘ If you would like to have me:’ ’ 

“I’m sure I can’t see why you are willing to 
run such a fearful risk for perfect strangers,” 
pursued Mrs. Byford. “What if you should 
take the disease, and die \ ” 

Calm, and even-toned, was the voice that 
answered, — 

‘ ‘ I should say : ‘ Even so. Father, for so it 
seemeth good in Thy sight.’ ” 


216 By a Way that They Kneio Not. 

To Mrs. Byford this utter self-abnegation 
came like a revelation. There was no bravado 
in the speaker’s voice or manner, but the 
lovely face glowed with holy enthusiasm, sur- 
prising indeed to one who knew nothing of 
any but selfish impulses. She did not believe 
in ‘‘canting hypocrites,” but — certainly Mrs. 
Keith was different from anyone with whom 
she had been familiar. 

“And you are not afraid to die she ques- 
tioned, in awe-struck tones. 

“Why should I be,” Mrs. Keith answered, 
gently, “since death is but the entrance into 
everlasting life ? And then, the Apostle John 
tells us, ‘ There shall be no more death, 
neither sorrow, nor crying.’ ” 

“I don’t understand it at all,” Mrs. By- 
ford said, with a weary sigh. 

“We will talk it all over after you have 
rested,” Mrs Keith answered, cheerfully. 

“Perhaps I had better lie down awhile,” 
Mrs. Byford replied ; “ but let me show you to 
your room first.” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


217 


“If there is one opening from Miss By- 
ford’s, it will be more convenient,” suggested 
Dr. Keith. 

“But we never put company there, it is so 
small ! ” protested Mrs. By ford. 

“You musn’t think of me as company,” 
Mrs. Keith said, smiling. 

And then they all went up to Edna’s room, 
and Mrs. Byford exclaimed : 

“ Would you believe it, Edna, Mrs. Keith 
has come to stay with us ! ” 

“Oh, I’m so glad ! ” cried Edna, clasping her 

% 

little, feverish hands, in an ecstasy of delight. 

“I’m going to put her in your boudoir,” 
Mrs. Byford went on, “for the doctor insists 
that she shall be near you.” 

“ But aren’t you afraid ? You know what is 
the matter with me ? ” 

“Yes, I know,” Mrs. Keith said, gentlj^ 
smoothing the tumbled hair from the flushed 
face ; “ and I am not frightened. I have had 
the disease.” 


I 


218 ^ TFay TAey Knew No\. 

Edna lifted her head, and looked with great, 
surprised eyes into the lovely face before her. 

“You’ve had the smallpox!” she said. 
“ Please tell me about it.” 

“It was many years ago, when I was a 
young girl like you, that it happened. I was 
at Rockford Seminary, and they built a little 
house in the grove, and there I lived, quite 
alone with my nurse, until I recovered.” 

“How funny,” said Edna. “And it didn’t 
disfigure you a bit ! ” 

Mrs. Keith smiled. 

“If you had seen me at that time, you 
would have thought me a frightful object ; 
but good care saved me from the dreadful 
pitting that the disease sometimes leaves.” 

As she talked, Mrs. ’Keith’s cool, mesmeric 
hand passed lightly over the sick girl’s hair, 
and almost as soon as she stopped speaking 
Edna sank into a peaceful sleep. 

“She hasn’t slept like that since she was 
sick,” whispered Mrs. By ford ; and then she 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 219 

went away to her room, and presently Dr. 
Keith and his mother stood alone together, 
and he said, gravely : 

“I don’t like the distracting headache Mrs. 
Byford complains of. If I am not mistaken, 
we shall have another patient “on our hands 
before many days.” 

True and undaunted were the eyes that 
looked into his as he spoke, and not a tremor 
was there in the voice that answered, — 

“We will do the best we can, and leave the 
result with Grod.” 

After that, the hours and the days went their 
monotonous round. Callers there were none, 
for a regiment of soldiers could scarcely have 
guarded the house better than that two- worded 
card. To be sure, the bell rang occasionally, — 
a nervous, jerking ring ; then Nora would ex- 
claim, — 

“Och, an’ it’s the beautiful flowers some- 
one’s been afther lavin’ for Miss Edna ! ” 

Usually a cheerful little note nestled among 


220 By a Way that They Knew Kot. 

the leaves of basket or bouquet, and note or 
card always bore the name of ‘^Ella Fair- 
court.” 

‘^It’s another of her odd whims,” the family 
said ; and Mr. Faircourt answered : 

^‘Let the child alone; there’s little enough 
kindness in the world, God knows.” 

Quite wild with terror was the coachman, 
however, at this last freak. 

‘‘Dar ain’t no use ob flyin’ in de face ob 
Probidence, Miss Ella, ” he remonstrated. ‘ ‘ An’ 
doan’ you know de small-pox am a powerful 
ketchin’ disease?” 

But Ella only laughed at his earnest pro- 
testations. 

“Don’t be frightened. Sambo; I’ll take the 
flowers to the door myself,” she answered. 
“You won’t have to go any nearer the house 
than the curb- stone.” 

And day after day, the cheering little note 
and flowers came to the secluded family, like 
white-winged messengers of love. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


EANTIME, Dr. Keith’s prediction was 
verified, and two patients claimed 
their care. And now, — unless you 
have seen a time when you had nothing in the 
world to do but wait ; when you wandered 
aimlessly up and down the room ; now pausing 
by mantel, or table, to handle books or trifles, 
in a purposeless way; then looking out of the 
window, wishing some one would come, or 
something would happen to relieve you from 
yourself, — you can hardly imagine how long 
the days were to Charlie Byford. Shut out 
from all association with the outside world, he 
had ample time for reflection, and intense bit- 
terness — almost hatred of the author of all his 
misery — permeated his every thought. 

“If Gfod is kind, and all-powerful,” he rea- 
( 221 ) 



/ 


222 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

soned, ‘‘why does he permit such dreadful 
things to be % Can there be any possible good 
in sorrow ? How can one lorn a God who thus 
afflicts ? ” These and kindred questions surged 
through his mind, and actually he would have 
scorned to believe that: “Whom the Lord 
loveth, he chasteneth.” 

Sincerely did Dr. Keith pity the wan-eyed, 
unhappy-looking young man he met daily, and 
he devised various ways to cheer his loneliness. 
He brought him books and papers, and some- 
times, when he could spare the time, they had 
a game of chess together. But, whether Dr. 
Keith played chess, or felt the pulse of a sick 
patient, there was something in his very pres- 
ence that glorified his Master. And Charlie 
would ask himself the question, “What makes 
him so different from other people % ” 

But, before he had answered the question 
satisfactorily, there came a day so terrible 
that he could never recall it without a shudder. 
Up and down the parlor he paced, or, wearied 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 223 

with walking, sat with his head bowed upon 
his hands. Occasionally a shriek of agony 
from the sufferers up-stairs penetrated the 
dense silence of the room. Other than this, 
there was not a sound in the great house. 
Everything was being done quietly and in or- 
der. Nora flew here and there, with quick, 
noiseless footsteps; while the stalwart nurse 
seemed like an automaton, doing all that pro- 
fessional skill could do, promptly and silently. 
And Mrs. Keith, alert, watchful, calm, hovered 
near, like a peace-giving influence. Not for an 
instant did they relax their efforts to beat b^ck 
the grim enemy — Death ; yet surely he was 
advancing, like a furious, wild beast, eager for 
his prey. 

And the hours of the day wore on, — the last 
day Mrs. By ford would ever see, — and she lay, 
apparently, unconscious. It was Dr. Keith’s 
third call that day, and he stood looking pity- 
ingly down at her, when she suddenly looked 
up at him with wild, startled eyes. 


224 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


“Oh Doctor ! am I going to die % ” she cried. 
' And what could Dr. Keith — a Christian 
physician — say % Could he lull her to sleep on 
the brink of a precipice, without a word of 
warning ? Could he stand idly by, and see her 
frail bark drift out upon the dark sea of 
death, and hold no beacon-light, to guide it 
through the gloom? Nay, verily. Not thus 
did Dr. Keith understand his mission. 

“Mrs. Byford,” he said, — and scarcely more 
tender could the Master’s voice have been than 
his, — “ are you prepared to meet your God ?” 

It would be impossible to convey to you the 
dismay expressed in the voice that anwered, — 
“Oh no ! And now it is too late ! ” 

And Dr. Keith answered, impressively, — 

“ ‘ Behold, now is the accepted time ; now is 
the day of salvation.’ ” 

For all answer, Mrs. Byford turned her head 
away from him, and wept bitterly. Presently 
the drowsiness of approaching death seized 
her brain, and she slumbered. Then — as will 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 225 

often happen in the dying — there was a brief 
return of consciousness. 

“Dr. Keith, if I go to Him nozo, will He 
receive me? ” she asked, earnestly. 

“He has said, ‘Him that cometh to me, I 
will in nowise cast out,’ ” the doctor answered, 
solemnly. 

And in solemn, deliberate tones, Mrs. Byford 
said, — 

“ ‘ Just as I am, and waiting not 
To rid my soul of one dark blot, 

O Lamb of God ! I come, I come ! ’ ” 

“Amen! Thank God! Just as you are, 
He will receive,” said Dr. Keith. 

Mrs. By ford looked into his eyes, — a look of 
thanksgiving, — and then the force of ebbing life 
had spent itself, and her new-born soul was 
with its God. 

Surely ! “To him that knocketh it shall be 
opened,” is the promise ; and, if the thief on 
the cross found mercy, can we doubt but her 
simple petition opened wide the pearly gate 

for Mrs. Byford ? 

15 


226 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


There was no stately funeral, no pomp, no 
display. At midnight, the undertaker screwed 
the coffin-lid fast over the poor, unsightly face; 
and instead of the sweet perfume of costly 
flowers, the heavy odor of strong disinfectants 
filled the room. And poor Charlie — denied 
the sad consolation of a last look at his moth- 
er’s face — wept bitter tears, as he watched the 
lonely procession wend its way into the night’ s 
star-lit stillness. Then — prompted by an im- 
pulse of utter, hopeless dejection — he threw 
himself upon his knees. Not to pray? Ah 
no ! What a relief it would have been to his 
overburdened heart, could he have cast his 
burden on the Lord. 

In this attitude Mrs. Keith found him, and 
need I tell you that her heart went out in earn- 
est prayer that this terrible affiiction might 
work for Charlie Byford an exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory. 

“Oh, Mrs. Keith! I caiiJt stand it!” he 
moaned. 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


227 


And upon the bowed head Mrs. Keith laid a 
gentle, motherly hand, as sh^ answered, in Job’s 
beautiful words of resignation : “ ‘Though He 
slay me, yet will I trust in Him.’ ” 

Then all the bitterness of Charlip’s soul 
burst forth. 

“If there is a God, I hate him!” he said, 
recklessly ; and Mrk Keith almost feared for 
the poor boy’s reason, so wild and haggard 
was his face. 

Not in her own words, but in words of 
Holy Writ, Mrs. Keith replied : 

“ ‘Though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil : • for Thou 
art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staff they com- 
fort me.’ I hope your mother leaned on that 
Staff, Charlie, as she entered the dark valley.” 

“But — mother was not a Christian!” said 
Charlie, doubtfully. 

“‘There is life for a look at the Crucified 
One,’ ” Mrs. Keith’s quiet voice answered. 
“Did you ever read how the laborers that 


228 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour, 
received equal pay with those who had borne 
the burden and heat of the day ? ” 

She turned the leaves of her pocket Bible as 
she spoke, and handed it to him, saying, 

‘ ‘ I must go to Edna now ; perhaps you 
would like to read the story for yourself.’’ 

And Charlie — interested, in spite of himself, 
to learn anything that could possibly refer to 
his mother — read, not only that, but many 
other wonderful things. 

As for Edna, quite oblivious was she of 
everything, as she moaned and tossed rest- 
lessly, muttering incoherent, inarticulate ques- 
tions and answers, or — living over again some 
past gayety — laughed, a wild, elfish laugh. 
Very grave looked Dr. Keith, when, as the 
gray tint of early day crept up the eastern 
sky, he came down to get a cup of coffee, and 
perhaps snatch a few moments’ sleep. 

“ An ’ it’s that tired yer lookin’, Dochter ! ” 
said sympathetic Nora. ‘‘Sure, an’ yez’ll be 


By a 'Way that They Knew Not. 


229 


wearin’ yerself out wid the watchin’ an’ the 
care !” 

The doctor smiled, — a quiet little smile, — at 
her anxiety; then he answered, kindly: 

“ The promise is, ‘ They that wait upon the 
Lord shall renew their strength.’ However, I 
will lie down for an hour.” 

Nora flew to get a pillow, and waited to see 
him comfortably settled ; then she went away 
to the kitchen, saying softly to herself : 

“ Och, an’ it’s the born angel Dochter Kaith 
is, to be sure ! ” 

The hours of the day wore on, and the deep 
shadows of night fell, and midnight settled 
down upon the silent street. And Dr. Keith 
knew that life and death hung evenly balanced 
in the scales, and they would tip one way or 
the other before the break of day. 

Suddenly Edna started up, with outstretched 
hands, — as if to ward off some dreadful pres- 
ence. 

“ Death is in the room ! ” she cried. He’s 


230 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

come for me ! Don’t let him take me ! Oh, 
hold me back from his terrible embrace ! ” 

Her voice died away in a scream of agony, 
and she sank back exhausted, — almost lifeless. 
Not a trace of beauty was there in the swollen, 
repulsive face ; and Elmer Worthington would 
have turned in horror from the sight. But 
Dr. Keith looked — a look of almost divine pity 
— into the burning eyes, and laid his hand 
gently on her head. 

‘‘Edna,” he said, “there is One mighty to 
save. Why don’t you call on Him for help ? ” 

The low, calm voice arrested her wandering 
thought, and a momentary ray of reason shot 
into the wild eyes. 

“ Oh ! Dr. Keith, pray for me ! ” she said. 

And down upon his knees went Dr. Keith, — 
his hand resting, as if in blessing, upon the 
fevered head, — and prayed. 

He prayed that the past, with all its folly 
and sinfulness, might drop away from her, 
like a worn-out garment, and that she might 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


231 


arise from that sick-bed a new creature in 
Christ Jesus ; and in His hands become the 
instrument of good to her fellow-men. But if, 
in His good sight, it was best for her to cross 
the dark rivei*, he prayed that she might go 
down into the dark waters leaning on the 
“ Strong Arm.” He prayed that — be the issue- 
what it might — the Infinite Compassion might 
fold her closely; that underneath, and round 
about her, might be the Everlasting Arms. 

Clear upon the stillness fell the earnest 
words, — a strong, sure confidence in the tone 
that uttered them that told they came from a 
heart that fully trusted the goodness and 
mercy of the Lord. And down into Edna’s 
beclouded consciousness went the earnest 
tones, touching her hardened heart ; and when 
the doctor ceased speaking, soft tears were 
stealing through her eyelids. 

^‘Oh, Doctor,” she said, ‘‘if Giod spares my 
life, I intend to be a Christian.” 

“ Thank Gfod ! ” he said, fervently. “Now 


232 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

you had better sleep.” He took a spoonful of 
some mixture standing near him, and placed 
it to her lips; then, with a woman’s gentle- 
ness, arranged the pillows, and sat by her — his 
grave, gentle presence an anodyne in itself. 

And so the crisis was passed. Edna Byford 
lived. 




CHAPTER XXIY. 



INUG and cheerful was the cosy library 
s L 

in which Susie Keith sat on that bleak 
March day. Outside, the gray, wintry 
landscape, with its naked trees and drifted 
snow, looked uninviting and cheerless. With- 
in, the glowing fire in the grate, the choice 
flowers blooming in the southern window, the 
heavy crimson curtains, all contributed to give 
the room a peculiarly comfortable and home- 
like air. To this snuggery, Susie had brought 
her books and painting, since her mother’s ab- 
sence ; and on this particular morning she was 
hidden, with her easel, in the embrasure of the 

window, behind the heavy curtains. 

( 233 ) 


234 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


She herself made a charming picture, — or so 
thought Dr. Gordon, as he came briskly up 
the walk, and saw through the window the 
sweet, womanly face in profile, the softly wav- 
ing hair, coiled from the broad, smooth brow 
into an aureole of splendor, and the clear eyes 
fixed intently upon the picture she was copy- 
ing. Dr. Gordon took in at a glance the soft- 
ness and grace of dress and attitude. Even 
the touch of sadness — with which the Great 
Artist illumines the loveliest faces — did not 
escape his notice. 

But quite unconscious of his presence was 
Susie, as she went on with her work, humming 
softly, — 

“ Majestic sweetness sits enthroned 
Upon the Savior’s brow ; 

His head with radiant glory crowned,” — 

And then. Dr. Gordon parted the curtains, 
and surprised her at her work. 

“Ah! copying a head of the Christ!” he 
said. And what wonder if a little dream flitted 


By a W^ay that They Knew Not. 


335 


through his brain as he folded the little hand 
in his, and looked down into the sweet, flushed 
face. 

“I don’t think,” he continued, “Art has 
ever given us a just conception of the Kingly 
One. I have seen dozens of artistic concep- 
tions of Him, but they usually represent Him 
as a weak, suffering sentimentalist, — destitute 
of either physical or mental force. Now, it 
seems to me absurd, and in the last degree 
inartistic, to delineate the greatest leader in 
the world’s history, — who, poor, despised, and 
alone, yet had the courage to attack the preju- 
dices and practices of His day, and speak ‘ as 
one having authority ’ to the great men of the 
nation, — as a sentimental enthusiast. It was no 
coward, moral or physical, who preached the 
sermon on the mount to a Jewish audience of 
that day, denouncing the old Mosaic law, and 
fearlessly hurling denunciation against thrones, 
and principalities, and powers. Art has never 
yet conceived the Christ who ‘arose and re- 


236 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


buked the wind, and said nnto the sea, Peace, 
be still.’ It has never imagined the command- 
ing presence of Him who said, ‘ Come unto me, 
and I will give you rest.’ It has utterly failed 
to comprehend the grandeur of His mission, 
and the tireless energy, the undaunted cour- 
age, the indomitable will, the unflinching flrm- 
ness, the patience and long-suffering required 
to accomplish it. Ah ! wondrously beautiful 
must have been His face, uniting as it did 
such sweetness and such strength. No wonder 
women loved Him, and followed Him, with 
tearful eyes, to the cross, — aye, even to the 
sepulchre.” 

“For such a Master, one could live or die,” 
said Susie, her face radiant with enthusiasm. 

“I sometimes wonder,” Dr. Gordon said, 
with a grave smile, “where young people, who 
are fond of romance, can And a more thrill- 
ing story, or a grander hero, than Jesus of 
Nazareth. Born in a stable, — and became the 
Savior of the world ; to-day, a poor, unknown 


By a Way that They Knew JSTot. 237 

carpenter; and to-morrow gathering countless 
multitudes around Him, to listen to the mar- 
velous words of rebuke, and cheer, and proph- 
ecy, that He spoke. Past middle life, and 
scarcely known beyond His humble home, and 
straightway thereafter ‘ preaching the gospel of 
the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sick- 
ness among the people ; ’ going through all 
that region of country in a triumphal march^ 
vast multitudes pressing around Him, esteem- 
ing it an honor but to touch the hem of His 
garment ; while He spoke to them words of 
burning eloquence, that have never been 
equaled. 

“Strange beyond the wildest dream of fancy 
was His life. Not the Arab, who sits at night- 
fall and lets his imagination people the cloud- 
land with genii and demons, ever conceived a 
story so romantic, nor one-half so heroic. 
Knowing, from the beginning to the end of His 
ministry, that a cross awaited him, yet He 
never faltered, but went fearlessly about His 


238 


By a Way that They Knew KoL 


Father’s business. And when the end came, — 
when they had plaited a crown of thorns, and 
put it upon His head, ‘ and mocked Him, say- 
ing, Hail, King of the Jews ! ’ — even then, with 
more than royal dignity, He said, ‘ Father for- 
give them, for they know not what they do.’ 
Then the glorious eyes closed; the grand head 
drooped ; the sacrifice was finished ; — the King 
of kings was dead. 

“ ‘ He had suffered a sorrow which none may tell, 

He had purchased a gift unpriced ; 

When His work was over, the moonlight fell 
On the sleeping face of Christ.’ 

‘ ‘ No costly coffin of purple velvet awaited His 
remains; no victor-car bore Him to his tomb. 
Ah no ! only one man was there brave enough 
to claim the poor, mutilated body and wrap it 
in its winding-sheet, and lay it in a sepulchre. 
A few faithful women ‘followed after,’ and 
wept for their illustrious dead ; but through 
the misty veil of their tears fell a curve of 
hope. One consolation brought compensation 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 239 

for their bereavement. Had He not said, 
‘I will see you again, and your heart shall 
rejoice ? ’ 

‘ ‘ And sure enough, triumphant over the last 
enemy, — Death, — He arose and folded together 
His burial clothes, and meeting repentant 
Mary, called her by name. Just imagine her 
glad surprise when she saw Him, her risen Lord 
and Master.” 

Susie’s uplifted soul shone through her eyes 
as she listened. It was the old, old story; but 
strangely new it seemed, as -Dr. Grordon’s low, 
earnest voice recounted it. 

“How she must have loved Him ! ” she said, 
with a burst of self-forgetful enthusiasm. 
“What joy it must have been to hear Him 
speak her name.” 

And Dr. Gordon, looking into the radiant 
face, thought, ‘‘ Surely, Christ’s chosen ones 
need no imaginary halo around their heads, 
for ‘His Father’s name, written in their fore- 
heads,’ gives more than human brilliancy to 
every feature.” 


240 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

This little aside conversation was carried on 
while he was saying with his lips, “Not to 
Mary alone was given this crowning joy. 
‘ Thus saith the Lord that created thee, Fear 
not ; for I have called thee by thy name ; thou 
art mine.’ ” 

“ Yes — but to have seen Him ! ” said Susie, 
eagerly; “to have heard His voice ! ” 

And Dr. Gordon answered, reverently, — 

“ ‘ As for me, I shall be satisfied when I awake 
with His likeness.’ ” 

He arose then, quite forgetting the errand 
on 'which he had come, and the dispatch an- 
nouncing Mrs. Byford’s death lay unthought 
of in his pocket. He looked down at Susie, 
and a new, strange radiance in his deep, earnest 
eyes, or else— who knows — something in her 
own heart, made a dainty color creep into her 
cheek. One moment he hesitated ; then he 
said, earnestly: 

“Susie, my dear friend, I love you ; I believe 
in God’s sight you belong to me. Come ! ” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 241 

He opened wide his arms, and without a word 
she glided into them ; and close, close to his 
heart he folded her, — God’s best gift to man: 
a noble, pure-hearted woman. 

There was no dread, no uncertainty, in that 
blissful moment. Firm on the Rock of Ages 
stood their feet, and with that firm foundation 
beneath them, they could defy the storms of 
life. 



16 



CHAPTER XXV. 

N hour later, Dr. Gordon entered Mr. 
Keith’s private office. 

By the way, it just occurs to me that 
I have unintentionally slighted Mr. Keith, by 
not introducing him to your notice. If 1 
sketch him for you, sitting in his leather- 
cushioned chair, behind his rosewood desk, 
with a Stock Exchange in his hand ; his dark, 
wide-awake eyes scanning the latest market 
report, — like a skillful checker- player, study- 
ing out the next expert move, — his white, firm, 
shapely hand threading through the dark hair, 
that was prone to fall over his broad, high 
forehead, perhaps it will be a natural portrait. 

A thorough, honest, upright business man, 
was Mr. Keith. Everybody liked him ; every- 
body trusted him. “His word is as good as 

his note,” was the verdict of the business 
(242) 



By a Way that They Knew Not. 243 

world. And only in the business world was 
Mr. Keith truly at home. Here he was really 
himself — prompt, alert, suave, obliging; always 
having an eye open for the “main chance,” 
yet strictly honorable in all his dealings. 

Very proud was he, and exceedingly fond, 
of his wife, and to her every material wish 
gave instant heed. But, if her soub in its 
loneliness, cried out for succor and a hus- 
band’s strong uplifting, then the piteous appeal 
fell upon deafened ears. 

“Religion is^well enough for women and 
children,” he said ; “ but a business man hasn’t 
time for such nonsense.” 

So it was that Mrs. Keith walked her 
spiritual way alone ; and this was the skeleton 
in her closet. Ah ! many noble women there 
are who thus “tread the wine-press, alone;” 
and it may be to them the words were written : 
“ Th}^ Maker is thy husband; the Lord of 
Hosts is his name.” 

And now, perhaps, you are inclined to pity 


244 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Mrs. Keith, and imagine him a brutal, unsym- 
pathetic husband. But he was no such thing. 
As the world goes, he was a model man — his 
blameless life an open book. I think had 
Jesus seen him he would have “loved him, 
and said unto him, One thing thou lackest.” 
His mistake lay in that he forgot, while laying 
up treasures upon earth, to also lay up for 
himself treasures in heaven. Many there are 
who err in this way, and find, when it is too 
late, that moth and rust have corrupted, or 
thieves broken through and stolen, their pre- 
cious hoard. 

“Life is so short, and uncertain ; eternity so 
long, and sure,” Mrs. Keith sometimes said, 
when on the Sabbath he relaxed from the strain 
and pressure of business, and found time to 
enjoy her society. 

He smiled — a smile that was almost sarcastic 
— when he answered, 

‘ ‘ My dear wife, a man’s first concern should 
be to provide for his family ! ” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


245 


And right royally did Mr. Keith do this. As 
his son grew to manhood he lavished money 
without stint upon his education, and felt 
unbounded pride in his noble character. But 
wholly ignorant was he of the hidden main- 
spring that impelled his boy above the shoals 
of temptation that shipwreck so many prom- 
ising young lives. Indeed, Mr. Keith quite 
prided himself that from Mm his son inherited 
the innate good qualities that made him what 
he was. And, no doubt, in this he was par- 
tially correct ; for I think you will agree with 
me when I say that good blood goes a long 
way in the make-up of a grand, Christian char- 
acter. A man, trammeled and held back by' 
inherent baseness, may make out to live a fair, 
Christian life ; but none but the dear Christ 
can ever know the temptations, ‘‘the buffet- 
ings from within, and without,” he endures 
before he has brought his body into subjection, 
and can truthfully say, with Paul, “Most 
gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my 


246 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 


infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest 
upon me.” 

Like a crown Mrs. Keith had worn her grace 
of wife and motherhood. Year after year, she 
had labored to make the air of her home pure 
and genial ; to throw around her husband 
every tie of love, and every influence, that 
could win him from the world, to Christ. And 
year by year — though he wbuld not have been 
willing to admit it — she did gain ground. 
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,” and a 
life so pure,' so evenly sweet, could hardly be 
lived year after year beside him without in- 
fluencing his own. Gradually — so gradually 
that he scarcely knew it — things spiritual 
grew to have a deeper meaning to him, and 
sometimes he almost resolved to leave the 
rush and whirl of business, and learn for him- 
self if these things were really true. But life 
never stands still; so the years went their swift 
course, and Mrs. Keith, far up the shining 
ladder, cast back appealing glances toward him, 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


247 


who should have been her support and stay; 
and, with a grand, unconscious patience, went 
her lonely way, ever breathing her earnest 
prayer that, in His own good time and way, 
Grod would bring this soul— more precious 
than her own life — to Himself. And out of 
such travail of soul, souls are born into the 
kingdom. 

But there comes a time in every woman’s 
life when nervousness, despondency, hysteria, 
weary days and sleepless nights beset her on 
every side, and the one earthly blessing most 
longed for, highest prized, is a husband’s ten- 
der sympathy. Other friends may crowd 
around her, offering all that friend may give 
of help, of love ; but to him alone is given the' 
exclusive right of going with her, as it were, 
through the golden gate of young womanhood 
into the promised land of serene old age. And 
,Mrs. Keith, with her strong, unwavering faith, 
was a woman, after all ; and sorely did she 
need the sweet companionship, the strong up- 


248 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


holding, only a husband can give. But Mr. 
Keith, preoccupied with his business, under- 
stood nothing of this ; the deepest meaning of 
his wife’s soul was a sealed mystery to him, 
and the burdens which it was his right to share 
she bore alone. 

“It is not real living to spend all your 
energies, and all your thought — to make your- 
self selfish, and hard, and narrow — for mere 
temporal blessings,” protested Mrs. Keith. 
“ And when you have gained houses and lands 
and superfluous thousands, what are they, 
after all, compared with the deep and broad 
spiritual things that go to build ‘ a house, not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’ ” 

“AVell, my dear,” responded Mr. Keith, “I 
don’t know much about the life beyond ; per- 
haps by and by I will take the time and look 
into the matter. Just now, however, my busi- 
ness is all I can attend to.” 

“My husband,” she answered, her great, 
gray eyes shining with inward light, “if God 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 


249 


should say to you, ‘ This night thy soul shall 
be required of thee : then whose shall those 
things be, which thou hast provided ? ’ ’’ 

said Mr. Keith,’’ “When you 
Christians are getting the worst in a good, 
square argument, you always begin to croak 
about death.” 

And Mrs. Keith answered, gently: “‘For 
here have we no continuing city, but we seek 
one to come.’ ” 

And now, perhaps, you have guessed that 
Mr. Keith was not delighted to see Dr. Gordon 
— as a minister of the gospel. To be sure, he 
arose with alacrity, and said, cordially : 

“ Good morning. Doctor. Glad to see you.” 

But to himself, he said, “ Now I’m in for it, 
certain ! ” And then he braced himself in his 
chair, with a prepared-for-the-worst feeling. 
So you will not be surprised to learn that he 
actually felt relieved when Dr. Gordon made 
known his errand. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


f HE following day’s mail brought three 
letters to Mrs. Keith, all treating upon 
the same subject. Over one clause in 
Susie’s she smiled, and then looked grave. 
It ran thus : 

But oh, mamma ! it makes me fairly trem- 
ble, when I think of being a minister’ s wife.” 

A grave responsibility it would be for her 
young daughter to assume, Mrs. Keith ad- 
mitted ; and yet, the blessedness of sharing 
that high and holy work of love ; of walking 
side by side with one whose mission was to 
draw others into the felt presence of Grod ; the 
inexpressible joy of daily, hourly association 
with one whose business, profession, study in 
life would be, to do all the good he could. 

Such a life would, indeed, be well worth the 
( 250 ) 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 251 

living, and surely its sequel must be a glad 
and full content. 

Something of this she said in her true, moth- 
erly answer. And Susie — every womanly in- 
stinct quickened into new life— for the first 
time rightly interpreted the wistful look in her 
mother’ s tender eyes. 

“How happy mother would be if father was 
a Christian,” she mused thoughtfully. And 
from that time, earnest indeed were her prayers 
in his behalf. 

Meantime, while her life flowed on to a 
golden tune, poor Edna struggled back to life. 
It was April before she sat up at all, and many 
days later before Charlie looked his first, 
startled look of horrified wonder into his sis- 
ter’s discolored face, — so strangely unlike the 
beautiful girl of a few short weeks before. 
Had he been the Charlie of happier days, 
most likely he would have ridiculed the gro- 
tesque little cap that answered in place of the 
luxuriant golden hair that had so entangled 


252 JBy a IVay that They Knew Not. 

Dr. Gordon. As it was, however, the memory 
of all that had happened since they last met 
surged over him, and without a word he took 
her little, wasted hand in his ; and with one 
irrepressible sob, ‘‘Oh, Charlie!” she wound 
her arms around his neck. 

“^My poor little sister!” he said, softly. 
“Thank God, you are spared to me ! ” 

“I suppose it was nothing but a miracle 
that^ saved my life,” Edna answered, thought- 
fully. 

“Dr. Keith is a wonderful doctor,” re- 
sponded Charlie, heartily. 

“Yes, Dr. Keith is splendid,'’'^ said Edna. 
“ But it wasn’t him who saved my life ; he says 
so himself.” 

Charlie smiled leniently at his sister’s delu- 
sion. 

“I guess you’re a little off there. Sis,” he 
said quickly. “If it wasn’t Dr. Keith, who 
was it?” 

And Edna answered, softly and reverently, — 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


253 


“It was God, Charlie! Dr. Keith says he 
could have done nothing without His help.” 

Strange wdrds these from frivolous, vain, 
unthinking Edna Byford. Inexpressible aston- 
ishment held Charlie silent for a moment; then 
he said, quite sharply: 

“ If God is so powerful, why did He let 
mother die ? ” 

Edna raised her eyes, swimming in tears, to 
his. 

“Poor mamma!” she said, sadly; “I don’t 
understand it at all ; but you know He says : 
‘ What I do thou knowest not now ; but thou 
shalt know hereafter.’ ’3 

Charlie arched his eyebrows, and arose sud- 
denly. 

“I’m afraid I’m tiring you. Sis. The doctor 
said I musn’t stay long,” said he. 

“Oh Charlie,” said Edna, “I wish you’d 
hand me my writing-desk, before you go.” 

So Charlie brought the desk, and then he 
went away to his room, muttering to himself : 


254 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


“Upon my word, I wonder what’ll happen 
next! The idea oi talking religion! Fm 
afraid her sickness has made her weak in the 
upper story. I do hope, when she gets strong 
again, she’ll get over it.” 

But she didn’t. And in his inmost heart 
Charlie didn’t want her to “get over it.” In 
his secret thoughts, he actually longed for the 
wonderful, upholding, peace-giving influence 
that made Dr. Keith and his mother so unlike 
anyone he had ever known. 

As for Edna, she opened her desk and list- 
lessly turned over its contents until she came 
to Elmer Worthington’s farewell letter. There 
was a good deal of the old flash to her eyes as 
she read it ; then she looked out of the win- 
dow, feeling strangely fdrlorn and desolate. 
Her conversation with her brother had revived 
old memories, — or recollections, that her ter- 
rible illness made seem remote, — and now the 
severance of the last tie binding her to the past, 
saddened her inexpressibly. And yet, min- 


By a Way that They Knew Kot. 255 

gling with the sadness, there came a realizing 
sense of the fact that she was thankful the 
past, with all its folly,— its empty pride, its idle 
pleasure, — had dropped away from her, like a 
worn-out garment. She realized fully that she 
did not love — never could have loved — Elmer 
Worthington; and that it was best for them 
both that their paths so widely diverged. All 
this Edna understood fully ; more than that, 
she certainly felt very grateful to God for thus 
mercifully preserving her from the consequen- 
ces of her own folly. Still, — though there are 
no broken hearts to be talked about, — there 
was an all-alone feeling in her heart that made 
her sad. She held the open letter in her hand 
for a few moments; then she said, emphatically: 
‘‘Well, I’m glad of it. There ! ” 

At this point. Dr. Keith came in. 

“Ah, I’m afraid you are overtaxing your 
strength,” he said, gravely. 

Then he gently closed the open desk, and 
placed it on the table. 


256 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


Edna smiled. 

‘‘ I thought it would amuse me to read over 
some of the letters of condolence I have re- 
ceived during my illness.’’ Then, gravely, 
‘‘This is one of them ; if you will read it, you 
will know all about it, better than I can tell 
you.” 

Dr. Keith took the letter, somewhat hesi- 
tatingly. 

“ My poor child ! ” he said, in pitying tones. 
“I am sorry you read this just now.” 

Edna raised a pair of very bright eyes to his, 
and answered : 

“ Why, .doctor, I believe it has done me 
good.” 

He smiled gravely at her earnestness. 

“I believe counter-irritants are beneficial in 
some cases,” he answered, dryly. 

That same afternoon, Charlie had the long- 
deferred talk with Dr. Keith. Now, the Doctor 
had given this subject— of Charlie’s future- 
very serious thought. Through all the young 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


257 


man’s lightness, he had not failed to see the 
latent nobility of character, only waiting devel- 
opment ; and it was no new thought to him, 
though greatly surprised was Charlie, when he 
proposed for him a few years of close study, 
thereby fitting him for some profession. 

“ Why, Doctor ! ” he cried ; “you have for- 
gotten that we are absolutely penniless.” 

Dr. Keith laid his firm, shapely hand on the 
young man’s shoulder, — something as an elder 
brother would caress a younger, — and his voice 
was more than kind, as he said : 

“ I wish you would trust this matter to me, 
Charlie, — that is, the pecuniary part of it. Of 
course you must decide for yourself whether 
my plan suits you, or not.” 

In vain did Charlie try to answer, — tears 
choked his utterance. And Dr. Keith went on 
to say kind, brotherly words, that throbbed 
in his heart, and awakened purposes that 
never slept again. So, in that interview was 

sown the seed that years afterward ripened 
17 


258 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


into glorious fruit. To be a man like Dr. 
Keith became from that time the one ambition 
of Charlie Byford. 

Ah ! a grand thing it is to thus stand a guid- 
ing star for any soul. And more glorious still 
the thought, that through a blessed eternity 
that same soul shall shine, a star in the im- 
mortal crown of him — or her — who led it into 
the light and joy of a Savior’s love. 

Meanwhile, the commonplace duties of life 
pressed upon their notice. With Edna’s re- 
covery, and the withdrawal of the obnoxious 
card, impatient creditors beset them on every 
side. Of course, their only plan was to yield 
up everything not absolutely necessary; and 
upon Charlie devolved the sadly difficult task 
of selecting and deciding what articles were 
indispensable. Well was it for him that, in 
the utter bewilderment of that trying time, he 
could rely upon the judgment of friends like 
Dr. Keith and his mother. 

After the discussion of many plans, it was 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 259 

finally decided that Charlie should go abroad, 
and finish his education ; Edna, meanwhile, 
making her home with the Keiths. 

And into Charlie’s heavy heart never once 
crept the thought, that the Lord would 
“ make darkness light before them.” 




CHAPTER XXVII. 

was the last day of April, and Susie went 
about the house with a shining, expectant 
face. 

“Sure, an’ its happy ye’re lookin’, Miss 
Susie,” said Bridget, looking admiringly at the 
bright face. 

“Why shouldn’t I look happy, Bridget,” 
answered Susie,” when mamma is coming 
home to-day ? ” 

But the bright, glad light of welcome clouded, 
when she looked into her mother’s face. 

“ Oh mamma ! ” she cried, “ are you sick ? ” 

Mrs. Keith kissed her daughter tenderly, — oh 
BO tenderly, — before she answered : 

“ Perhaps I have been a little homesicJc, 
darling. I shall be all right to-morrow.” 

But when to-morrow came, and Mrs. Keith 
(260) 



By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


261 


tried to rise as usual, she fainted ; and Mr. 
Keith sent an imperative message to Dr. 
Bryant. 

am only overtired,” Mrs. Keith said, 
when she recovered consciousness. 

But quite otherwise thought the doctor. 

She has completely used up her nervous 
force,” he said, gravely. “ There is absolutely 
nothing left to build upon.”' 

Mr. Keith’s face paled visibly at the ominous 
words ; but he set his lips firmly, and made a 
vain effort to appear calm and self-controlled. 
As for Susie, poor child ! they echoed through 
her heart like the knell of doom. 

Thus began the vigils of that weary time. 
Mr. Keith hovered constantly round the house, 
now going up to his wife’s bedside, saying 
some reassuring word to her ; then, in irrita- 
tion, saying to Susie, — 

‘ ‘You mustn’t be so anxious, child ! There is 
nothing to be alarmed about, — nothing at all.” 

But his white, distressed face belied his 


262 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


words, and poor Susie’s heart grew heavier 
with the passing hours. And when, as night 
came on, her mother sank into absolute uncon- 
sciousness, her pale, anguished face attracted 
the notice of the busy doctor, to whom the 
scene of white-faced, wan-eyed watchers, hang- 
ing upon his every look and word, for a crumb 
of hope, was by no means new. 

“You mustn’t take it so hard, little girl,” 
he said, trying to speak encouragingly. 
“There is always hope, while there is life.” 

To Mr. Keith he said, very gravely : “It is 
impossible to tell how it will terminate. I 
think she is a very sick woman. Perhaps you 
would feel better satisfied if I counseled with 
Dr. Keith.” 

So Dr. Keith was dispatched for, and with 
the morning light he came. Mr. Keith met 
him at the door, and wrung his hand in speech- 
less agony. Then he said, huskily: 

“Nelson, my boy, you must save your 


mother ! ” 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


263 


‘‘All that medical skill can do shall be 
done, father,’’ Dr. Keith answered, gently. 
“But life and death are in God’s hands ; our 
help must come from HimN 

To this Mr. Keith had no answer ; and to- 
gether they went up to the sick-room, and very 
softly to the bedside, and stood looking down 
on the wan, unconscious face. Never before had 
Dr. Keith seen that dear face without an an- 
swering look of sympathy, or smile of love, 
and, for a brief moment, his professional calm- 
ness almost gave way. He stooped and felt 
the faint pulse, to hide his emotion from his 
father’s searching eye; then, though his set 
lips gave forth no sound, a white-winged mes- 
senger bore his petition for counsel, for help, 
for strength, to the ear of the Great Physician. 
And back to his waiting heart came the an- 
swer : 

“ Fear not ; I will help thee.” 

Strangely incomprehensible this telegraphy 
may seem to those who know nothing of the 


264 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

childlike, earnest faith that turns to the 
Heavenly Father for every daily and hourly 
need. With Dr. Keith, the habit of prayer, in 
every emergency, was as simple a thing to 
do as to speak to an earthly friend. To him 
the Savior was no far-otf myth, but a blessed 
reality, a living presence, a perpetual joy. 
And to him — not as a dead letter, but a living 
truth — came the words : 

ye abide in me, and my words abide in 
you, ye shall ask what ye will^ and it shall be 
done unto you.” 

It was not strange, then, that his face visibly 
lightened. And it was but natural that Mr. 
Keith, knowing nothing of this hidden manna, 
this spring of living water, should think the 
brightening look meant hope. 

‘‘You think she is better. Nelson?” he 
whispered, eagerly. 

The Doctor shook his head. Then he arose, 
and motioned his father to follow him out of 
the room. 


By a Way that They Knew Not, 265 

“I would go and lie down, father, if I was 
you,” he said, kindly. “She will not rally 
from this state for hours ; and it will only tire 
you unnecessarily to watch by her.” 

“Is there nothing that can be done?” Mr. 
Keith asked, sadly. 

“There is nothing to do at present, but wait,’^ 
was the Doctor’s answer ; “except,” he added, 
earnestly, “ to pray for her.” 

Mr. Keith’s keen eyes fixed themselves for a 
moment piercingly on his son’ s face. Then he 
turned without a word, and sought refuge in 
his room ; and the Doctor went silently down 
to the library, to consult with Dr. Bryant. 

“Of course it is impossible to tell,” Dr. 
Bryant said, presently; “but I confess, I see 
little chance for her recovery.” 

“I am glad to remember the result is in 
higher hands than ours,” Dr. Keith answered, 
quietly. 

“Yes — T know what you mean. Doctor,” 
Dr. Bryant said, incredulously. “But, my dear 
man, the days of miracles are past.” 


266 By <x Way that They Knew Not. 

And the busy doctor drew on his gloves, 
and went his way to other homes, where they 
waited eagerly his coming. 

The long days, filled with sickening anxiety, 
wore on, and hope was slowly dying out in the 
hearts of the watching friends. On the seventh 
night the crisis came, and over the calm, 
patient face crept the last pale-gray shadow. 
It was the scene oftentimes repeated, yet 
ever new to the aching hearts to whom it 
comes. A speechless, breathless little group, 
helplessly waiting — for what ? Dr. Keith was 
in his place by the bedside, his mother’s hand 
in his. Beside the bed knelt Mr. Keith, every 
lineament of his face stamped with utter de- 
spair. 

“Oh God, I can not bear it!” he moaned, 
in his agony, bowing his head on the pillow. 

And then, I think, the waiting angels must 
have whispered, joyfully, — 

“Behold, he prayeth ! ” 

And, if ‘‘joy shall be in heaven over one sin- 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 267 

ner that repenteth,’^ then the angels were ex- 
ceeding glad that night. Totally ignorant were 
the other watchers of that wondrously beauti- 
fnl tableau. Not one of them saw the pearly 
gate, thrown widely open, through which a 
cloud of witnesses pressed, eager to see the 
recording angel write that new name in the 
Book of Life. Neither had they the faintest 
conception of the heavenly radiance that 
streamed down into Mr. Keith’s entranced soul. 
And not a note did they hear of the angels’ 
echoing song : 

‘ ‘ Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own ! ” 

There was a slight stir in the room — a smoth- 
ered exclamation from Susie, a whisper from 
Dr. Bryant, a low, fervent, “Thank God!” 
from Dr. Keith — and when Mr. Keith raised 
his head, his wife looked into his eyes with 
quiet, conscious love. He looked at Dr. Bryant’s 
warning finger, and tried hard not to betray 
his feelings, but to speak calmly and naturally. 
But with the attempt at words he broke down 


268 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

utterly, and gathering her thin hand in both of 
his, he bowed his head and wept like a child. 
She laid her other hand on his, and said, in a 
low whisper : 

‘‘ My poor husband ! ” 

Dr. Bryant lifted up his hands in dismay; but 
when he tried to speak, his voice failed, and he 
turned away ; and Dr. Keith knelt down by 
his father, saying, softly: 

“ My God, I thank thee ! Thou hast heard 
our prayer.” 

Presently, the nurse administered a few 
spoonfuls of some strengthening liquid, and 
then Mrs. Keith closed her eyes, with a little, 
satisfied sigh, and dropped into a peaceful, 
natural sleep. Then Dr. Bryant went on tip- 
toe to the hall, and Dr. Keith followed him. 

“I never saw anyone nearer death,” Dr. 
Bryant said. ‘‘I had no idea she would re- 
vive ; but I think that last medicine saved 
her.” 

Dr. Keith answered him reverently: 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


269 


“It is written, ‘The prayer of faith shall 
save the sick.’ ” 

A happy household was the Keiths’ during 
the following days of hopeful watching, when 
Mrs. Keith came gradually out from “the 
valley of the shadow.” But the culmination 
of their joy was reached that first Sunday, 
when she was lifted into her easy- chair. 

It was toward the evening’s close of that 
tranquil, perfect day of rest, that Mr. Keith 
quietly took the Bible, and, opening it rever- 
ently, read to his family the one hundred and 
third psalm. His voice trembled slightly as he 
read the first verse : 

“ ‘ Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that 
is within me, bless his holy name ” but there 
came a strong, sure gladness into the tone, as 
he read the twelfth verse: “‘As far as the 
east is from the west, so far hath he removed 
our transgressions from us.’ ” 

“My children,” he said, as he closed the 
book, “I have been groping in the dark for 


270 By a Way that They Knew Kot. 

years and years ; but God is merciful ; His 
blessed love has reached after me, and to-night 
I praise His holy name, that He has not for- 
saken me, but, ‘by a way that I knew not,’ He 
has at last led me out of darkness, into His 
marvelous light. And now, my dear wife and 
children, from this time we will walk Heaven- 
ward together.” 

And then Mr. Keith’s family gathered about 
him, and welcomed him, with tearful eyes, into 
their very midst. 

“Let us pray,” said Dr. Gordon ; and never 
had he prayed as he did then, when he gave 
voice to the thanksgiving of that united family. 




CHAPTER XXVIII. 



jUSIE!’' called a clear, ringing voice, 
and the owner of it had one foot on 
the stair below, and stood looking up. 

“Yes! Come up to mother’s room!” re- 
sponded Susie.” 

‘‘Oh, how pleasant it is here!” Edna said, 
standing with head bent a little on one side. 
“If I ever keep house, I intend to have a room 
just like this,” 

It was a beautiful room, — I wish I were able 
to sketch it for you. I should like to show 
how the firelight fell on Mrs. Keith’s sweet 
face. It was here that Mr. Keith sought re- 
laxation from business, or rest on the com- 
fortable lounge, while his wife read to or 
talked witli him. Hither, also, came Nelson, 
to have long confidential talks with his mother. 

And many a time had he gone out from that 
( 371 ) 



272 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

room refreshed and strengthened for the battle 
of life. 

“I believe the very air of this room is hal- 
lowed,” he said, sometimes. 

And so it was, — made sacred by a Christian 
mother’s prayers. Ah ! who can estimate 
a mother’s boundless influence? Or who, 
but a mother, can receive her priceless recom- 
pense ? 

If Susie’s future life was a benediction to 
others, — if she walked by Dr. Gordon’s side, 
one with him in every noble thought and aspi- 
ration, inciting him ever to noblest action, — she 
owed the foundation of her beautiful life to 
those quiet hours when she nestled on a has- 
sock at her mother’s feet, and learned of her 
sweet, never- forgotten lessons of patient, hope- 
ful trust. 

‘‘ Let’s see,” Edna went on; “in the first place 
I should want an open fire, to make the room 
look cheerful and cozy; then, of course, I 
should have to have a bay-window, filled with 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 273 

the choicest flowers and vines ; lace curtains, of 
cobweb fineness ; a carpet, absolutely perfect in 
its soft, delicate beauty; chairs, large and small, 
but easy all. There, that’s a rhyme; so I guess 
I’ll stop to wish.” 

“ Ah, but you have left out the most impor- 
tant thing!” cried Susie. ‘‘What would the 
room be without mother 

Mrs. Keith smiled a little at Susie’s eager- 
ness. 

“ Sure enough 1 ” returned Edna. “I don’t 
think I shall ever have a room just like this, 
after all.” 

Whereupon she nestled down on the hearth- 
rug in front of Mrs. Keith, and gathered her 
hand within both her own. 

“Oh Mrs. Keith 1 ” she said, earnestly. “ If I 
were to try my very hest.^ do you think I could 
ever hope to be anything like you ? ” 

“My dear child,” Mrs. Keith said, in her 
sweetest, tenderest way; “if I have any virtue 

that you think worthy to be emulated, it lies in 
18 


274 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

this, and only this : Christ is in my soul ; He 
is mine ; and if there is any sweetness in my 
life, it is because His Spirit flows forth from 
mine. I wish — oh, how earnestly — that I could 
impress upon the mind of every young Chris- 
tian tlieir need of a living^ personal love to 
ChrisV^ 

“I think I do love Him, just a little,’’ 
ventured Edna ; ‘ ‘ and I do really and truly 
want to be good, but — I don’t know how.” 

“What ‘personal love to Christ,’ mother?” 
questioned Susie, thoughtfully. 

“My darling child, it is God’s gift,” Mrs. 
Keith replied. 

“ But is it for us f How can we obtain it? ” 

“On your knees, my child, ask for it!” 
Mrs. Keith answered, earnestly. 

“I don’t believe it’s for me,” Edna said, 
sadly. “The more I pray, and the more I 
read the Bible, the worse I seem to grow. I 
thought when I was converted I should have 
nothing more to do, but keep growing better 


By a Way that They Knew NoL 


275 


day by day. But I am not improved in the 
least, and I am perfectly discouraged.’’ 

‘‘Perhaps, dear Edna,” Mrs. Keith said, 
gently, “you forget that Christ said, ‘As the 
branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it 
abide in the vine : no more can ye, except ye 
abide in me. He that abideth in me, and I in 
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for 
without me ye can do nothing.’ If I had 
known at your age, as I now know, what a 
priceless treasure, what ‘a well of water spring- 
ing up into everlasting life,’ this personal, 
abiding love to Christ could be to a weak, sin- 
ful human soul, I would have sought it with 
untiring zeal. Whereas, all He required then, 
all He asks now, all He demands for the future, 
is sweet, unquestioning submission to His will. 
Alas ! how few there are who learn this simple 
lesson : — that parallels can not form a cross. 
And that a will uniform with Christ’s is the 
only secret of a glad, peaceful, useful Chris- 
tian life. The reception of this divineness 


276 By a Way that They Knew NoU 

opens a fountain in our souls ever springing 
into life. It comes to us in every homely 
duty, waits along the common paths of our 
common life, and presses itself into every 
hour, and every place ; helping us in every 
endeavor to be true, and to be good — to become, 
and to achieve. If we possess this divineness 
— this oneness with Christ — then, and not till 
then, are we Christ- like ; and ‘ the fruit of the 
Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suftering, gen- 
tleness, goodness, faith.’ ” 

Edna took long strides in her religious edu- 
cation as she listened ; and then and there was 
born in her heart an eager determination to 
know more of the wonderful, yet simple, mys- 
tery. And straight to her room, from that 
quiet talk, went she, and locked her door ; then 
she knelt beside her bed, and entered into 
solemn covenant with her Savior to dedicate 
her life, with all its imperfections and short- 
comings, to his service. And the seed sown by 
Mrs. Keith’s lavish hand was destined to yield 
a glorious fruitage. 


By a Way that They Knexo Not. 277 

It was in June, — the freshest, rarest, most 
perfect month in the year, — when the roses 
were in bloom, and the sweet scent from flow- 
ering shrubs and trees fllled the house with 
delicate perfume, that Dr. Gordon claimed his 
bride. Now, Susie would have preferred a 
quiet wedding, at her own home. But Dr. Gor- 
don, in a measure, belonged to his people ; and 
to many of them it would be a rare pleasure to 
witness the nuptial ceremony. So it came to 
pass, on that rare June day, that she walked 
down the church aisle in her sheeny bridal 
robes, leaning on her husband’s arm — Mrs. 
Dr. Gordon. With the opening words of the 
ceremony her eyes had deepened and dark- 
ened into the glad solemnity of one who treads 
upon holy ground. There was no sign of em- 
barrassment in the sweet face, no tremor of 
foreboding — but the outshining from her soul of 
love-full content. Mr. Adams, the aged min- 
ister who had baptized Dr. Gordon in his in- 
fancy, received him into the church, and assist- 


278 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

ed at his ordination, officiated ; and there was 
a sincere ring to his kind voice when he said, 
a little later, — 

Mrs. Gordon, I am glad my young brother 
has so wisely chosen his helpmeet.” 

A rare glow overspread Susie’s face at the 
words, and her heart gave a little, exultant 
bound when she thought that she was indeed 
Dr. Gordon’s chosen companion, and helper. 

Ah, the sacred union of two lives means 
more than a kiss here, a caress there. It 
means to walk together side by side, — to help 
one another, “to bear one another’s burdens, 
and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 




CHAPTER XXIX. 


perfectly beautiful ! ” 

The universal voice said this, wlien, 
a year later, another bridal cortege 
wended its way slowly up the broad aisle, to 
the altar. 

“Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wed- 
ded wife, to live together, after God’s ordi- 
nance, in the holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt 
thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep 
her, in sickness and in health ; and, forsaking 
all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as 
ye both shall live % ” 

It was Dr. Gordon’s voice that asked these 
questions. And Dr. Keith’s voice, firm and 
clear, responded : 

‘ ‘ I will.’ ’ 

And a moment later, Edna heard — like one 
( 279 ) 


280 By a 'Way that They Knew Not. 

in a blissful dream — the concluding words of 
the impressive marriage ceremony. 

“After these vows, thus solemnly made by 
you both in the presence of God, and these 
witnesses, I pronounce you husband and wife, 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” 

And the next morning’s papers announced 
that Dr. and Mrs. Keith, accompanied by Dr. 
and Mrs. Gordon, would pass the honeymoon 
in Europe. So it came to pass, the books of 
the Europea, on which Elmer Worthington 
had engaged passage for himself and bride, 
now bore the names of the happy bridal party. 
In due time they reached Antwerp, and Susie’s 
wish was gratified, for at last she stood before 
Rubens’ wonderful masterpiece, “The De- 
scent from the Cross.” 

“Oh, see His hands!” she cried, breath- 
lessly. 

“ And His feet 1 ” said Edna. “How could 


they wound Him so ?” 


I 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 281 

And Dr. Gordon’s voice added, softly: 

“ ‘ See, from His head, His hands, His feet, 

Sorrow and love flow mingled down : 

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet. 

Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? ’ ” 

But now their attention was arrested by the 
sound of a very loud whisper just behind 
them. 

“I’ll be hanged! said the voice ; “if there 
isn’tEdnaByford!” 

“ Why, the small-pox didn’t disfigure her 
at all ! ” said another voice. 

“ Disfigure her ? I should say not ! Why, I 
never saw her so beautiful as she is this blessed 
minute.” 

“Humph!” was the answer given to this 
declaration, and then our party turned to con- 
front Mr. Worthington. 

“ Why, Miss By ford, — ” he began. 

“Allow me to introduce you to my wife — 
Mrs. Keith,” interrupted the Doctor, with a 
wicked little smile. 


282 


By a Way that They Kneio Not. 


Mr. Worthington held out his hand with the 
easy, nonchalant air of one who is accustomed 
to popularity. 

“Upon my word,” he said, “ this is a sur- 
prise ! By the way, Mrs. Keith, my wife is 
an old friend of yours. Mabel,” turning sud- 
denly round, “You havn’t forgotten Edna 
Byford, have you ? ” 

“What a delightful surprise this is,” mur- 
mured Mrs. Worthington. 

“ And we should have missed it, if you 
hadn’t coaxed me to come and see this horribly 
doleful picture,” added Mr. Worthington. “I 
suppose it’s the thing, though, to do the famous 
paintings when one’s abroad, so one can tell 
the folks at home about them, you know.” 

Edna’s great, thoughtful eyes scanned the 
man before her, and she almost shuddered at 
the sight of his face, that told of a life worse 
than wasted. “Is it possible that I ever 
promised to marry him?” she asked herself. 
“What a life we should have led ! Oh, how 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


283 


good God was to lead me in my blindness, ‘ by 
a way that I knew not/ into this light, and 
joy, and peace ! ” 

Now, all this happened twenty-five years 
ago ; and the other evening Dr. and Mrs. Keith 
celebrated their silver wedding. It was before 
Mrs. Keith descended to meet her guests, that 
she stood for a moment before a light stand, on 
which her open Bible rested. Presently her 
husband came up beside her and slowly turned 
the leaves ; then he pointed to these words : 
‘‘The heart of her husband doth safely trust 
in her. She will do him good, and not evil, 
all the days of her life.” 

There was ineffable love, and joy, and trust, 
in the eyes she raised to his. 

“O, Nelson, do you really think so?” she 
said, softly. 

For all answer he folded her in his arms, 
and kissed her tenderly. 

Ah, love is the life of life ! — God’s best, most 
precious gift to man. And a home united by 


284 By a Way that They Knew Not, 

this sacred bond typifies and foreshadows the 
home that is perfect, and eternal. 

“I have been thinking,” Edna said, pres- 
ently, ‘^how true this verse is: ‘And I will 
bring the blind by a way that they knew not ; 
I will lead them in paths that they have not 
known : I will make darkness light before 
them, and crooked things straight. These 
things will I do unto them, and not forsake 
them.’ ” 

And Dr. Keith answered, reverently : “ ‘ He 
maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; He 
leadeth me beside the still waters.’ ” 

Ah ! the Father' s hand had led them. That 
was the glad secret of their happy marriage — 
crowning their lives with richness. Leaning 
on His strong arm, they had stood beside their 
dead, and looked their last look upon dear, 
coffined faces. Clinging to His upholding 
hand, they had gazed down into open graves ; 
but even into that awful gloom a Savior’s 
love can penetrate, and straightway their be- 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


285 


wildered eyes had seen through the dark 
portal the bright gleam of “heaven’s distant 
lamps.” So the glorious moonlight — on that 
twenty -fifth anniversary — folded its silvery 
mantle about three marble slabs, the latest of 
which bore the inscription: “Susie, beloved 
daughter of Nelson and Edna Keith ; aged 19 
years. Not lost, but gone before.” Nineteen 
beautiful years they had been, filled to re- 
pletion with sweetj girlish loving-kindness, 
that left a joy in the mother’s heart, even amid 
its deepest pain. So, “being dead,” their 
daughter still lived — a blessed memory. 

Among the guests that evening were Mr. and 
Mrs. Charlie Byford. But you would never 
have recognized the Charlie of our early chap- 
ters in the Rev. Mr. Byford of that evening. 
With him it had been no sudden transforma- 
tion, but a gradual “following on to know the 
Lord.” And through a blessed eternity he 
would thank Dr. Keith for the kind words 
spoken, the helping hand extended, in his 


286 By a Way that They Knew Not. 

hour of need. By his side— “a noble woman, 
nobly planned” — stood Ella Faircourt, his 
wife. The kind heart of her girlhood had 
proved good ground, and in homes where 
want and sickness and sorrow abounded, her 
name was a household word. Dr. and Mrs. 
Gordon also were present, and back over the 
years that had gone went his thoughts, as he 
stood, resting one arm on the mantel, and 
surveyed the scen^. And just here comes the 
absurd wish that I were able to sketch that 
group for you, — I should so like to show how 
the beauty of holiness outlives the dimpled 
roundness of youth. Ah, many are the cos- 
metics, and hair restoratives, and “blooms of 
youth,” warranted to beautify the human face ; 
but one touch of the Great Artist’s hand can 
give a genuine., glorious loveliness, that time 
can never fade. 

Presently there came a lull in the conversa- 
tion ; then Dr. Keith led his wife to the piano. 
You have never heard her sing? Then how 


By a Way that They Knew Not. 


287 


can I make clear to you how her splendid 
voice rolled out in the beautiful words : 

“ ‘ When on my day of life the night is falling, 

And, in the winds from unsunned spaces blown, 

I hear far voices out of darkness calling 
My feet to paths unknown,— 

“ ‘ Thou, who hast made my home of life so pleasant. 

Leave not its tenant, when its walls decay; 

0 Love divine, O Helper ever-present, 

Be Tliou my strength and stay ! 

“ ‘ Be near me when all else is from me drifting, — 

Earth, sky, home’s pictures, days of shade and shine, — 

And kindly faces to my own uplifting 
The love which answers mine. 

“ ‘ I have but Thee, O Father! Let Thy Spirit 
Be with me then, to comfort and uphold ; 

No gate of pearl, no branch of palm, I merit. 

Nor street of shining gold. 

“ ‘ Suffice it, if — my good and ill unreckoned. 

And both forgiven through Thy abounding grace — 

1 find myself, by hands familiar, beckoned 
Unto my fitting place. 

“ ‘ There, from the music round about me stealing, 

I fain would learn the new and holy song; 

And find, at last, beneath Thy trees of healing, 

The life for which I long.’ ” 


288 By a Way that They Knew JVot. 

Never were tender words more tenderly 
sung ! And Nelson Keith — standing in the 
same position that he stood on the night of 
Mrs. Tremain’s party, years before — looked 
down into the lovely, peaceful face before 
him, with a feeling of thankful, exultant joy. 

“So the Lord alone did lead them, and 
there was no strange God with them.” 



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